Waller, Foster say they'll show for Mississippi governor debate. But not Tate Reeves.

Luke Ramseth
Mississippi Clarion Ledger

Two of the three Republicans in the governor's race plan to attend the second debate of the campaign season, scheduled for next month at Southwest Mississippi Community College.

Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves won't attend the June 7 event in Summit. He also skipped the first debate, held in Starkville in April. 

The free event will also feature Republican attorney general and secretary of state candidates debating or discussing their candidacy. It starts at 7 p.m. and is hosted by the Mississippi Federation of College Republicans and the Lincoln County Republican Women. 

Gubernatorial candidates Bill Waller Jr., the former state Supreme Court justice, and state Rep. Robert Foster, R-Hernando, have said they will take the debate stage. A spokesman for Reeves said he would not.

"We weren't able to make this event," Reeves spokesman Parker Briden said in a statement. "We're focused on going after the liberal policy ideas of the party of Chuck Schumer, Nancy Pelosi and Jim Hood — not our fellow Republicans."

Briden said Reeves had already participated in several joint appearances with the two other candidates, and "we've already accepted several debate and forum opportunities during the primary." Reeves declined to attend the April event at Mississippi State University because he said his schedule was too busy around the legislative session. 

A debate organizer, Southwest Community College student Sam Edwards, said the Reeves campaign told organizers they would not be able to make it because Reeves "would not be in the area." 

Edwards said other candidates committed to attend the event are state Rep. Mark Baker, R-Brandon, and Andy Taggart, both running for attorney general, as well as state Sen. Michael Watson, R-Pascagoula, running for secretary of state. 

Edwards said WJTV-TV has agreed to stream the event on several online platforms, though it won't be televised. Dave Hughes of SuperTalk Mississippi is slated to moderate, with representatives from WJTV and the politicalwebsite Y'all Politics also asking questions. 

The Democratic candidates don't have debates scheduled.

This week candidate Robert Shuler Smith, the Hinds County district attorney, issued a statement calling on his opponents to agree to one before the August 6 statewide primaries, noting a Democratic gubernatorial primary debate had not been staged "in recent memory." Candidate Velesha Williams also has said she would like to debate. 

"A location in Jackson would make a lot of sense, but I am willing to debate Attorney General Jim Hood and the other candidates anytime, anywhere," Smith said. 

A Hood spokesman, Michael Rejebian, said "it would be something we would consider" if someone were to organize a debate.  

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Contact Luke Ramseth at 601-961-7050 or lramseth@gannett.com. Follow @lramseth on Twitter.

Former Supreme Court Chief Justice Bill Waller, left, and Rep. Robert Foster, R-Hernando, shake hands prior to a Republican gubernatorial debate for governor of Mississippi in Starkville, Miss., Tuesday, April 2, 2019. Republican Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves did not take part in the debate.