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**************************************************** **************************************************** Eaves' organization plans "to conduct research and provide new policies for the public debate." Among those already signed up to guide the organization from its Board of Directors are former Governors Ray Mabus, Kirk Fordice and Bill Allain as well as former Congressman Ronnie Shows and Fordice MDECD head Jimmy Hiedel. You
Are Invited To Attend The Public Introduction Of The Mississippi Policy
Forum 4/16 **************************************************** Henick's close ties to national Republicans are bound to fuel speculation about Rudy Giuliani's presidential ambitions. "If you're looking to run nationally, that's your guy," said one source. Giuliani spokeswoman Sunny Mindel said Henick was brought in to work on "very specific issues relevant to clients of Giuliani Partners," not for a White House race. Henick
lands job at Giuliani Partners 4/5 ****************************************************
On Wednesday evening, April 30,
former President George Bush and Republican candidate for Governor, Haley
Barbour of Yazoo City, will be the special guests at a Republican Governor’s
Association (RGA) fundraiser in Houston, Texas. The RGA will use the funds
raised to support Barbour and his Republican colleagues who are on the
ballot this year.
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Two of the three leading candidates for speaker, Billy McCoy and Bobby Moody, have legitimate opposition for re-election for their house seats. Dr. George Waddell is trying to unseat Billy McCoy. Bobby Moody of Lewisville pulled contenders from both major parties as well as an independent contender. In the Democratic primary, Moody should have no problem getting past Douglas Lovern but in the general he will face credible opposition. He wouldn't have a problem in a head-to-head race, but with an independent that could pull from the Democratic base and the potential for anti-incumbent sentiment; Moody will have to run a legitimate race. Getting tied down in his Winston County based district could complicate Moody's run for speaker. ****************************************************
Based on perceived vulnerability, incumbent Representative Mike Eakes drew two Democratic opponents as well as two Republicans. Kurt Morgan, who received a lot of encouragement to run for the Senate against Gloria Williamson, decided to make a run for the House instead. The early money is on Morgan vs Eakes facing off on November 4th, but Morgan has his work cut out for him getting by Kiah Hitt in the primary.
Long time incumbent Bennett Malone of Carthage faces a strong challenger in Clinton "Daygo" Brock. Brock's brother, Carlton, is a supervisor in Leake County, giving Brock strong ties to the district. Malone is still the odds on favorite to win but this race is worth watching.
Bryant Clark, the son of retiring Speaker Pro Tempore Robert Clark, stepped up to run for the seat his dad has held since 1968. To win the seat he'll have to get past Leroy Johnson, the executive director of Southern Echo, a grass roots organization instrumental in redistricting and educational issues. This race should be a dogfight.
Two Democratic challengers filed to run against incumbent legislator Mary Ann Stevens in House District 48. Charles Edwards, a Holmes County Lawyer, poses the most serious challenge to Stevens, who is running despite her husband's health problems.
Richard Baker, Brookhaven CPA, is a strong candidate against House powerbroker, Bobby Moak. Baker must first secure the GOP nomination against Caruther Whitehorn, a challenge he should be up to. Entrenched incumbent Moak should be safe, but this district has trended GOP in recent years. Here is another race where a strong challenger and an anti-incumbent mood could make things interesting.
In a strong Republican District with most of the votes in parts of Yazoo County, South Madison County and Clinton, the race will almost certainly be decided on August 5 in the Republican Primary. Incumbent Representative Jep Barbour of Yazoo City faces a serious challenger in lawyer Phillip Gunn of Clinton. However, Barbour has a strong conservative voting record that should keep him safe in such a conservative district. Plus, he benefits that his uncle, Haley Barbour, is leading the GOP ticket. It is hard to overestimate the value of this factor in this district. Gunn will have some traction in Clinton, but Yazoo and Madison will have more votes on Election Day. If Barbour does get the nomination, he will face off against Paige Eaves Gill, the daughter of two-time gubernatorial candidate John Arthur Eaves and the sister of former trial lawyer gubernatorial candidate John Arthur Eaves Jr.
Harry Medders dropped out of the race two weeks ago. Incumbent Representative Clayton Smith was left with one opponent, Rankin county GOP activist Rita Ray. Rita Ray will get significant support from certain Rankin County Republican factions, but it would be an upset if she were able to knock off Smith on August 5th.
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This one could be an upset in the making. Incumbent Representative Mary Coleman drew a strong challenger in Christopher Bell. Bell, a law firm investigator and Democratic activist, is popular with the under 40 professional crowd. Coleman, despite being President of the National Black Caucus of state legislators and having a war chest of over $30,000, has never polled better than 51% in any election.
Democratic Incumbent Cecil Brown has an advantage in his bid for re-election but don't count out challenger Gary Love. Brown has a $56,000 war chest but the district is 52% black and Love, who is black, has a good history with a number of African American political figures. Clotz will also run hard, cutting into Brown's votes and possibly forcing a run off.
The battle for House District 68 should be decided in the Democratic Primary. Incumbent Tom Wallace should win, but he is running against a hard charging grass roots campaigner in Credell Calhoun, who lost the seat to Wallace in 1996. ****************************************************
For the first time in three generations, House Seat 75 will not be occupied by a Livingston. Three Democrats and two Republicans have stepped up to fill the void left by the retirement of David Livingston. The district leans Republican but this one is a toss up.
Democratic incumbent Bo Eaton faces two other Democrats, two Republicans, and one Independent in this toss up district. Republican Larry Harvey has previously made a strong run for State Senate while the other Republican, Wilford Ishee, has the benefit of leaning on his brother, Representative Roger Ishee, for advice. Whoever emerges from the Republican primary will face an uphill battle against probable Democratic nominee Bo Eaton.
Mayor McDonald Scott should win against Larry Eugene, but this is her first serious challenge in years. ****************************************************
If the election were held today, who would win the AG race?
Who is going to be the next Speaker of the House?
"If there were any criminal acts or any laws that have been violated, somebody should go to jail," - Frank Melton fuming over the possible illegal transfer of planes by an Ex-Lott aide. When asked if Paul Minor paid off any of his campaign loans Chief Justice Edwin Pittman said, "Not that I'm aware of." "I
am very disappointed. The way I see it I can't run for anything."
- Tom Cameron after Chancery Judge Lewis E. Patten ruled against Cameron
in his suit against the Mississippi Republican Party. **************************************************** |
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After
announcing he was dropping out of the race for Governor, John Arthur Eaves
publicized he would stay 
Yazoo
Virginia
Governor Mark Warner will headline the Mississippi Democratic Party Jefferson
Jackson Day Dinner, traditionally their largest fundraiser of the year.
The dinner will be held at the Clarion Hotel in Jackson Saturday May 31
at 7 pm. A reception beginning at 6 pm will precede the dinner. Tickets
are $100 each and can be purchased online at 
The Rankin County Republican Party will honor Congressman Chip Pickering
at a dinner on Thursday May 29 at the Hilton Hotel in Jackson. Special
guest speaker, former Congressman JC Watts, will keynote the $60 per person
($600 per table) dinner, which starts at 
First
Parents George H.W. and Barbara Bush will tour the Baptist Cancer Services
new Hederman Cancer Center in Jackson on May 5, before attending a luncheon
benefiting the cancer center at the 
United
States Treasury Secretary John Snow will keynote the Delta Council's 68th
annual meeting at the campus of Delta State University in Cleveland, MS.
The Friday, May 9 meeting begins at 
When
the Mississippi Republican Party Executive Committee ruled Representative
Tom Cameron did not meet the residency requirements to run for Senate
District 22, Cameron took his case to court. After hearing testimony from
Cameron and the state GOP on April 22, Chancery Judge Edward E. Patten,
Jr. ruled in favor of the Mississippi Republican Party. Both the state
GOP's and Patten's rulings were based on an Attorney General's opinion
that Cameron was not qualified to run. According to the opinion, state
law requires a candidate to have lived in the district where he/she is
running for at least 2 years immediately prior.
It
has been well documented that the Republican turnout for Mike Parker was
lower in 1999 vs. Kirk 
The
three Democratic Lt. Governor hopefuls, State Senator Barbara Blackmon,
former '99 Gubernatorial Candidate Jim Roberts, and '99 Lt. Governor Candidate
Troy Brown met for a roundtable sponsored by Leadership Jackson at the
University Club in Jackson last week. Sparks flew early and often between
Blackmon and Brown over issues ranging from prisons to civil justice reform.
Perhaps the issue that distinguished the three candidates the most was
tort reform. Brown advocated more tort reform citing the jobs that it
would bring to the state, while Roberts came down somewhere in the middle.
According to Roberts, if elected he would approach the problem as a mediator,
bridging the gap between the trial lawyers and the medical community.
Blackmon seemed to dismiss more tort reform and instead promoted open
records for doctors and hospitals as well as setting limits on insurance
premiums. 
Congressman
Chip Pickering (R-MS3) opened up a Brookhaven Office on April 24 with
an open house for the community and elected officials. Brookhaven is
in the "new" part of the Third District as is 
On
Thursday April 17 the "Biloxi Sun Herald" broke the story about
federal investigators having subpoenaed records from the state's highest
courts. According to their story; federal and state authorities are "looking
into whether lawyers paid off loans for state court judges in exchange
for favorable treatment in court." One week later, "The Clarion
Ledger" carried its own story about the investigation. Both papers
focused their stories on State Supreme Court Justice Oliver Diaz Jr.,
whose father testified before a federal grand jury in Jackson earlier
this month. The "Sun Herald" also names high profile trial lawyers
Paul Minor, the son of columnist Bill Minor, and 
The
Republican Primary for House District 64 is quickly becoming one of the
most watched Republican primaries in the state this year. The race features
16-year incumbent legislator Bill Denny and well-known Republican party
activist Joe Nosef. Nosef, while well-known for years by Republican elected
officials and the party faithful, has now gained the attention of the
lobbyists at the Capitol and others by raising over $60,000 and attracting
more than 240 supporters to a campaign kickoff party in March. Denny reported
a $16,560 campaign warchest on his report ending December 31, 2002 and
has hired professional consultant Dan Davis and Mike Marsh to work with
him in his re-election bid. District 64 has changed substantially since
Denny's last competitive race 16 years ago. Both candidates have significant
bases of support, will work hard, raise money and run well-organized campaigns.
It should be the most hotly contested primary on the Republican ballot
on August 5th.
