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The Magnolia Political Report for January 15, 2002

Magnolia Report 14

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Magnolia Report January 15, 2002
(Number 14) - E-mail Version
www.MagnoliaReport.com

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The Scuttlebutt
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A South Mississippi sheriff has announced he is looking carefully at a run for Mississippi's top office as an independent. The Times of South Mississippi reports that Lamar County Sheriff Marvin Breazeale is serving his last term as sheriff and would like to run a Kirk Fordice style campaign for Governor. Breazeale has been elected sheriff both as a Democrat and as a Republican and served the Reagan and first Bush Administrations as US Marshall for the Southern District.

Also in South Mississippi, around Hattiesburg (and by now other parts of the state) bumper stickers that say "Paul Ott for Governor; Ole Blue for Lt. Governor" have appeared on the highways. Paul Ott says he is sure they are just meant in fun because he isn't planning on running. He doesn't want to commute to Jackson from Pike County to work everyday. Ole Blue might run, Ott tells the Magnolia Report, but he doesn't think that he would get much of reception at the State House.

However, Former Republican National Committee Chairman Haley Barbour (Yazoo City) has made statements of a more serious nature concerning the 2003 gubernatorial campaign. On January 4, the Wall Street Journal ran a piece quoting Barbour as saying, "It's the right time for me to give back." On January 14, Barbour told the Washington Times, "This year I'm going to spend a lot more time than that [every weekend] to put myself in a position to make an informed decision about running for governor next year. I'm serious about it. I'm very interested, but I don't have to make a decision until up in the fall, and I'm not going to. When the election comes, I'll be 56 years old, and if I'm ever going to do this, this would be the year. Mississippi's been good to me; politics has been good to me. This is a chance to give back and try to do more to help our state."

While speculation continues about Haley Barbour, his nephew State Representative Jep Barbour (Dist 56) may be considering a race of his own. He may challenge former Hinds County Chancery Judge James E. Graves, Jr of Jackson for his seat on the State Supreme Court. Governor Musgrove appointed Graves to the position in November to fill the vacated seat of Fred Banks. Conservatives believe Barbour could win this Central District race pointing to the election of State Supreme Court Judge Jim Smith, Republican Highway Commissioner Dick Hall, and Republican Public Service Commissioner Nielsen Cochran, all from that same district. Additionally, Ceola James (Vicksburg) has qualified to run in the race with the potential to pull some of Graves' demographic support base in the Central District's Delta counties.

Speaking of the Delta, the 2002 campaign against Congressman Bennie Thompson is expected to begin shortly with contests both in the Democratic Primary and the General Election. George Irvin has begun to build his support among fellow Democrats that oppose Thompson. Meanwhile, Republican Clinton LeSueur continues his run to be the Republican nominee for the mid-term election.

***CORRECTED***

A circuit court judge match to watch features Andrew K. Howorth (Oxford) in the Third Circuit. Governor Musgrove appointed Howorth, attorney and former Commissioner of the Mississippi Bar Association, to fill the seat vacated by the resignation of Judge Robert Kenneth Coleman. No other candidates have officially filed against Howorth, but they are expected.

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Hits to Magnolia Report Web Page
January 1 to January 14: 14,892
Since Launch (July 6): 167,177
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E-Bytes
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"The stars are aligned for a repeat performance of that divisive political conflagration - a reality in which Democrats win the battle but then lose the war. If Democrats suffer that consequence, they have no one to blame but the Democrat-controlled Mississippi Legislature - once again too weak-kneed to put policy above petty politics." -Sid Salter, The Clarion Ledger: December 30, 2001

"By failing to lead and instead engaging in the more typical politics of blame, Musgrove may be making a politically shrewd calculation. If the wheels come off state government, he has built a public case of legislative negligence. But voters don't elect their leaders to engage in political calculation as much as they elect them to simply lead…By abdicating in this most basic task of governing, Musgrove risks abdicating leadership itself." - Reed Branson, The Commercial Appeal: January 1, 2002

"The absolute last thing that I want to do is go into that trust fund. I really hope that we don't have to get into the tobacco fund, but at the same time I don't want to turn any old ladies away from nursing homes." -Representative Charlie Capps on Tobacco Trust Fund in the Bolivar Commercial: January 3, 2002

"At this stage, I hope to make universal health insurance available for all uninsured Mississippians." -Representative Chuck Espy in the Clarksdale Press Register: January 4, 2002

"I think it's what is really able to be done vs. what will be political posturing. I have told members of the Legislature and I have told business and industry that if adjustments in our justice system are passed in our Legislature I will sign them.'' -Governor Ronnie Musgrove on Tort Reform in the Northeast MS Daily Journal: January 5, 2002

"Judge Wise's action in the redistricting issue is additional proof of the need for strong and effective steps to improve the state's judicial system." - Editorial, The Times of South Mississippi: January 7, 2002

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Quick Notes
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Congressman Roger F. Wicker has created the federal political action committee RFW PAC. While also his initials, RFW stands for the Responsibility and Freedom Work PAC. This PAC will be used "to help candidates who believe in responsibility and freedom" around the nation. With the Republicans holding a thin majority in the House of Representatives going into the mid-term elections, this should be a way for Wicker to assist fellow Republicans around the country in tough races.

Burns Strider began in his new role as Southern Regional Communications Director for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, leaving his former role as spokesperson for 4h District Congressman Ronnie Shows. Cassie A. Sheldon will be filling Strider's role in Shows' office.

Stan Harris, former staff member in Senator Trent Lott's Washington Office, has gone to work for Southern District US Attorney Dunn Lampton.

National Journal's Hotline reported on January 7 that Senator Mary Landrieu (D) of Louisiana has hired Democratic strategist Donna Simmons to manage her 2002 reelection campaign. Simmons managed Governor Ronnie Musgrove's successful 1999 campaign. She left her role as Deputy Chief of Staff for Musgrove last summer and worked briefly as Vice President for Development and Policy at the Enterprise Corporation of the Delta.

The Mississippi Republican Party has launched Mississippians for Voter Identification, a committee to organize statewide grassroots support to actively campaign for Voter Identification election reform in the 2002 Legislative Session. The web site at www.msvoterid.org lists Representative Greg Snowden (Dist 83) and Senator Charlie Ross (Dist 20) as Co-Chairs for the committee.

Martha Gordon (Okolona), wife of Appropriations Chairman State Senator Jack Gordon (Dist 8) has resigned as treasurer of the State Democratic Party.

Bill Hawks (Hernando), Deputy Secretary of Agriculture, has sold his farm and equipment in order to meet federal requirements for his position in the USDA.

Sam Hall of the Natchez Democrat reported that Adams County Republicans were upset when US Secretary of Education Rod Paige visited Natchez on a social call and passed up the Grand Ole Party for a few ole Democrats. Paige attended a party with Adams County Circuit Clerk M.L. "Binkey" Vines and met with State Supreme Court Justice Chuck McRae, a representative from the office of Congressman Ronnie Shows, and other local elected Democrat officials. While in town to do a little hunting, Paige raised a few eyebrows as a top-ranking cabinet member in a Republican administration, visiting Democrats.

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Recent Musgrove Appointees
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December 31, 2001: Carter O'Ferrall Bise as Chancery Court judge for District Eight. Bise replaces Judge Tom Teel, who resigned from the bench. Bise served as Chief of Staff for Congressman Gene Taylor from 1989-1990.

December 31, 2001: Sanford R. Steckler as Chancery Court judge for District Eight. Steckler replaces Judge J. N. Randall, Jr., who resigned from the bench. Steckler was a member of the Mississippi State Senate from 1972-1980.

January 02, 2002: Paul S. Funderburk as Circuit Court Judge for the First Circuit Court District. Funderburk replaces Judge Frank A. Russell, who resigned from the bench. From 1980-83, Funderburk served as Chief Assistant District Attorney for the First Circuit Court District. Since January 2001, Funderburk has served as Judge of Tupelo Municipal Court.

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Upcoming Events
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==January 16 (Wednesday)==
Gov Ronnie Musgrove's State of the State Address
==January 19 (Saturday)==
14th Annual Candlelight Vigil for the Unborn
6-7pm: First Floor Rotunda of the State Capitol
==January 21 (Monday)==
Rankin County Republican Banquet
6:30 pm - Guest Speaker: Haley Barbour
==January 24 (Thursday)==
Republican State Executive Committee Meeting
Jackson, State HQ; 3PM
==January 29 (Tuesday)==
Mississippi Leadership Forum Meeting
Clarion Hotel, Downtown Jackson, MS
11:30am-1:00pm - Topic: Education - Meal Cost: $20
Speaker: Andrew LeFevre from ALEC (American Legislative Exchange Council)
RSVP by Thursday, January 24th to Nick Walters at nick@nickwalters.org
==January 31 (Wednesday)==
Annual Periodic Report Deadline
All PACs, Campaigns, Candidates
5:00 pm: Secretary of State's Office
==February 18 (Monday)==
DeSoto County Republican Party's "President's Day" Dinner
7:00pm at the DeSoto Civic Center on I-55 in Southaven
Guest Speaker: Haley Barbour
==March 1 (Friday)==
Congressional Campaign Filing Deadline
==March 9 (Saturday)==
"The Soiree" Gala Democratic Fundraiser
Hilton Hotel: Jackson, Mississippi - Formal Attire
==March 22-24==
Mississippi Republican Women Federation State Convention
Grand Casino Oasis Hotel - Gulfport, Mississippi
Convention Registration Early $100.00 - After March 7, 2002 Late $120.00
==June 4 (Tuesday)==
Congressional Campaign Primary Election
==June 25 (Tuesday)==
Congressional Campaign Primary Election Run-Off
==November 5 (Tuesday)==
General Election

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Final Words - Redistricting MSU and UM
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"First off, a Dec.27 editorial in The Clarion-Ledger, followed by a Dec. 30 column wrongly stated that her plan puts both Mississippi State University and Ole Miss in the same Congressional district. It doesn't. An obscure correction run 10 days later hardly touched the emotional State-Ole Miss trauma caused by the error." -Bill Minor: The Neshoba Democrat: January 9, 2002

"When you are wrong, you should step up and say so. I was wrong in my Dec. 22 column on Hinds County Chancellor Pat Wise's redistricting decision on a point of fact - whether Mississippi State and Ole Miss were in the same congressional district. Allow me to apologize. I eyeballed a map published in this newspaper and trusted my eyes rather than checking a list of Oktibbeha County precincts. And for that, Judge Wise, I apologize. Seems Mississippi State is indeed in the new 3rd District while Ole Miss is left in the new 1st District. Seems State is in the new 3rd District by a few feet, at any rate. Under the map of Wise's choice, the 1st District comes to the literal western boundary of the MSU campus - splitting the city of Starkville - and puts the campus on the western boundary of the new 3rd District." -Sid Salter, The Clarion Ledger: January 9, 2002

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Magnolia Political Report, 2002
Brian Perry, Editor
www.magnoliareport.com
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© Magnolia Political Report 2002 • PO Box 24233 Jackson, Mississippi 39225
FAX 601.355.7885 • scoop@magnoliareport.com
Brian Perry, Editor