Formerly the Nick Walters Political Report
Magnolia Political Report
July 6, 2001 (#1)
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DEMS in Party Leadership Crisis, Again
The big news this week concerns the ongoing struggle within the Mississippi Democrat Party. Such a long and complicated story need not be fully recapped here. To summarize the conflict in a word: race. Here is a quick recap of the events to date.
June 2, 2001 - The Administrative Committee of the Democrat State Executive Committee (SEC) voted 12-3 to dismiss KEELAN SANDERS, reportedly making $25K a year on staff at the State Headquarters.
June 16, 2001 - The full Democrat SEC voted 30-27 to reinstate Sanders at their meeting at the Ramada Southwest in Jackson. Chairman JON LEVINGSTON, Executive Director AMY HARRIS and Treasurer JODIE ROBINSON resigned. Due to party rules requiring black and white racial balance, Executive Vice-Chairman MELTON HARRIS JR.'s position in the leadership is also pending review.
June 23, 2001 - Four members of the Democratic SEC from the 5th Congressional District all resign: RAY CRAWFORD of Lumberton, AL ROUGHTON of Gulfport, BROWN MILLER of Hattiesburg and BUDDY MCDONALD of Picayune.
June 30, 2001 - Democrat SEC meets at Medgar Evers Library in Jackson where they are addressed by Governor RONNIE MUSGROVE who called for unity. No immediate changes in party leadership were announced.
Current Status - One more leadership resignation from MIRIAM SIMMONS who has stepped down as Parliamentarian. Levingston's supporters want to stage a comeback but sources suggest this will be a difficult move considering many on the committee think it is time for black leadership again. Other sources suggest Levingston would never have discussed coming back if he didn't have the votes which is given further support by the fact that Governor Musgrove made an appearance in support of Levingston at the June 30 meeting.
Levingston was elected unanimously last year as Musgrove's designated choice. Some on the committee believe the next executive director should be black, citing the past few ED's have been white. The party's acting chairman is CARNELIA PETTIS FONDREN of Oxford; the acting treasurer is ROSE JUZANG from Harrison County.
Upcoming Dates to watch for developments include the July 28 Jefferson-Jackson Fundraising Dinner and the October 2-3 trial set for the lawsuit against the Mississippi Democrat Party by their former Executive Director ALICE SKELTON in Judge JAMES GRAVES' Hinds County Court.
Tishomingo Voters Say No to Casino
In the largest voter turnout for Tishomingo County since the 1992 Presidential election, residents went to the polls last Thursday to defeat a casino proposal in a non-binding straw poll. The unofficial vote of 3,923 to 3,222 was a rejection of the plan of the Jena Band of Choctaw Indians of Louisiana to build a $100 million casino in the area. Following the vote, county supervisors also rejected the proposal on a 3-2 vote. The Indians would have to negotiate a compact with Governor Musgrove who has said he opposes the casino. First Congressional District ROGER WICKER also came out against the move to bring a casino into his Northeast Mississippi District. The Jena Band will continue with their plans for a casino, but are now looking for a location in Louisiana.
Not Interested in the Saints
The Bolivar Commercial reports little support to bringing the New Orleans Saints to the Gulf Coast at a recent legislative hearing in the Delta county. Representative CHARLIE CAPPS, Chairman of the House Appropriations Committee said, "I'm not even thinking about that. We have too many big ticket items to deal with like the Nissan project and making sure that gets going properly and creates the jobs that we expect it to. I don't think we're interested in $500 million for a football team." The paper reports that Senators NEELY CARLTON and WILLIS SIMMONS both agreed that the state had more important issues to look at. Carlton described the possibility as "a smoke screen" by Saints owner TOM BENSON. Simmons suggested that Mississippi should not add to "our bonded indebtedness with a project like that."
Other issues discussed at the hearing included the state's budget status and the legislature's ongoing strife with Governor Musgrove. "The governor had been all over the state attacking the legislature. He was saying we were playing tricks. Contrary to what the governor says, the Minimum Foundation Program is fully funded. There are no tricks. If there are any tricks, then he taught them to us," said Capps.
Big Names Watch Espy Innauguration
Municipal officials elected across the state on June 5 have been sworn in to their new duties. Mayor HENRY ESPY hosted two big names at his inauguration in Clarksdale: Lieutenant Governor AMY TUCK and movie star MORGAN FREEMAN. Freeman has recently opened a restaurant in Clarksdale and is looking to expand the tourism industry there.
Party Leaders Talk "Religion"
Mississippi Republican Party chairman JIM HERRING and Democrat Chairman Jon Levingston spoke to the Clarksdale Press Register in a phone interview earlier this week. They served on the State Personnel Board together and the Register described the conversation like this:
"Herring called Levingston 'a fine man' for whom he has a great deal of respect. He took the opportunity to invite Levingston to join the Republican Party. 'The doors of our church are wide open to everyone and that includes Jon Levingston. We'd love to have him.' Levingston responded, continuing the church metaphor, 'I'm hardly ready to submit to Savenarola in the Inquisition just yet.' Girolamo Savenarola was a 15th Century Florentine inquisitor who engineered the downfall of the powerful Medicis and paved the way for Nicolo Machiavelli's rise to power."
Recent Bush Appointees
On June 7, The White House announced that former Mississippi Fourth District Congressman and 1999 GOP Gubernatorial nominee MIKE PARKER of Brookhaven is President GEORGE W. BUSH's choice to serve as Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works which includes the Army Corps of Engineers. Parker's nomination was sent to the Senate on June 19 and he awaits confirmation.
On June 29, The White House announced that Mississippian MARION BLAKEY's nomination to the National Transportation Safety Board had been sent to the Senate. Blakey will serve until December 31, 2005. Blakey has also been picked to serve as chairman of that board for a two-year term. The principal of public affairs and public relations firm Blakey & Associates, Blakey served in both the Reagan and the First Bush administrations, most recently as administrator to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. He awaits Senate confirmation.
On The Web
Republican Polls
The Mississippi Republican Party has been running polls on its website www.msgop.org with increased numbers participating. The first poll listed PHIL BRYANT, DAVE DENNIS, BILL HAWKS and DAVID WAIDE as possible gubernatorial material with poll voters also suggesting JIMMY HEIDEL and Mike Parker as well.
The second poll, looking at the Lieutenant Governor's was won by DELBERT HOSEMANN with 4,422 votes or 65% while Representative MARK FORMBY, Senator RICHARD WHITE, Senator MIKE CHANEY, and former Lieutenant Governor EDDIE BRIGGS. For this poll, user suggestions include Central Transportation Commissioner DICK HALL, Central Public Service Commissioner, NIELSEN COCHRAN, Senator CHARLIE ROSS, and former Senator TERRY BROWN.
The current polls asks viewers to choose one of four congressional redistricting plans: "Community Coalition," "Economic Development," "I-20 Split," and "Parallel." Viewers are able to look at each plan and compare them before voting. The "Parallel" Plan had a slight lead over the "Community Coalition" Plan at press time.
Opinions for Sale
The web site which received a lot of attention for its flag vote forum, www.msopinions.com is now for sale as the owner will be moving out of Mississippi soon. A message posted on June 27 mentions, "Given its low traffic at present, the price is not exorbitant." Those interested should contact webmaster@msopinions.com by e-mail.
MS Healthcare vs MS Lawyers
A new web page examining the lawsuit environment in Mississippi as it pertains to the medical community has been launched by the pro-tort-reform side. Check out this issue site at www.protectingmshealthcare.com for more information.
Movers and Shakers
SANDRA MASSEY, former communications director at Stop Lawsuit Abuse Mississippi has filled the vacancy of communications director at the Mississippi Republican Party. This vacancy was created with the promotion of KIM GALLASPY to executive director. Former executive director GEORGE FONDREN, who served for nearly two years, is exploring prospects in the private sector and getting married.
The MSGOP also recently added REBA SEALS-JACKSON of Laurel as Finance Director. Seals-Jackson, a graduate of JSU comes to the GOP from Trustmark National Bank where she served as a financial services representative. Meanwhile, Gulf Coast Businessman DAVE DENNIS has been named by new Republican Chairman Jim Herring as the Party's Finance Chairman.
LISA MADER gave notice on June 14 that she would be leaving her job as director of communications for Governor Ronnie Musgrove. JOHN SEWELL, formerly of Mississippi Forum on Children & Families, now serves as the governor's spokesperson.
Judicial Resignations
4th Circuit Court (Leflore, Sunflower, Washington Counties) Judge GRAY EVANS submitted his resignation to Governor Musgrove on June 21 to be effective June 30. He will maintain his status as senior judge. He was first appointed to the bench by Governor WILLIAM WINTER in 1982. Musgrove filled the position on July 3 by naming Leflore County Judge RICHARD A. SMITH of Greenwood to the position.
11th Circuit Court (Bolivar, Coahoma, Quitman, Tunica Counties) Judge ELZY SMITH submitted his resignation to Governor Musgove the third week of June to be effective June 30. His term ends in December 2002. Musgrove filled the position on July 1 by naming Quitman County Prosecuting Attorney LARRY O. LEWIS to the bench. Currently the Director of Citizens Bank and Trust Company, Lewis served as Municipal Court Judge for Marks from 1969 until 1978.
20th Circuit Court (Rankin, Madison Counties) Judge JOHN KITCHENS submitted his resignation to Governor Musgrove on June 19 to be effective June 30. He will join the corporate law firm of Wells, Moore, Simmons & Hubbard of Jackson. He previously served as district attorney and was responsible for the prosecution of Luke Woodham, the Pearl High School shooter. Kitchens was elected to the bench in 1999. Governor Musgrove named William Chapman of Ridgeland to fill this spot. Chapman currently serves with Sec of State Eric Clark as assistant secretary of state for business regulation.
Appeals Court Judge MARY LIBBY PAYNE, the first and only female on the Mississippi Court of Appeals, submitter her resignation to Governor Musgrove effective July 31. An original member of the court created in 1995, she was reelected in 1999 to her second term, which will be filled by Musgrove's appointee until 2007.
The Final Word
"The party is not in disarray. Anybody who says this party is in disarray is sadly mistaken," - state Representative OMERIA SCOTT in The Clarion Ledger. Scott, a member of the Democrat State Executive Committee made the comment following a meeting to discuss the resignation of at least eight Democrats over the past month from Party leadership positions. The article went on to say, "In the end, leaders couldn't even agree as to whether the meeting had actually ended or not."
Dis-ar-ray: n. "a lack of order or sequence" - From the sadly mistaken dictionary.
© Magnolia Political Report 2001 • PO Box 24233 Jackson, Mississippi 39225
FAX 601.355.7885 • scoop@magnoliareport.com
Brian Perry, Editor