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The Magnolia Political Report for August 28, 2002

Magnolia Report 26

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Magnolia Political Report
August 28, 2002
(Number 26) - Web Version
www.MagnoliaReport.com

It has been too long since the last Magnolia Political Report went out. Since then, we have had the Neshoba County Fair and President George W. Bush came to town to campaign for Congressman Chip Pickering and raise money for Pickering and the Mississippi Republican Party. Also, the Mississippi Democratic Party has had the annual Jefferson-Jackson Day Dinner. Quickly, let's review some of these events and get back on course on our twice-a-month reports. (If you are interested, check the Images Page to see pictures of the Bush visit.) As always, don't forget to check the Headlines Page in between reports to stay up to date on Mississippi Politics (usually updated daily during the week)

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Neshoba Notes Recap
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Billy McCoy (D-Rienzi) seems the expected heir to Tim Ford (D-Tupelo) to fill the post of Speaker of the House. Other names are still discussed, but he seems to be the pick of conventional wisdom, pending of course the 2003 election cycle.

Terry Brown (R-Columbus), rumored as a Republican candidate for Lieutenant Governor (he lost the primary for the Republican nomination for that post in 1999), apparently will be running for the State Senate to fill the post of Bill Cannon (R-Columbus) who is expected to retire after more than 25 years in the legislature.

Continued talk of support surrounds Carmel Wells-Smith (R-Pascagoula) as a candidate for State Treasurer against Marshall Bennett (D-Tchula). Originally discussed as a strong candidate for an open seat, now some say she will even challenge Bennett if he decides to run for reelection. She has established herself as a strong conservative candidate and may benefit from the surge in regionalism from the Coast and South Mississippi.

Scott Ross (D-West Point), a member of the State College Board, has discussed challenging Insurance Commissioner George Dale (D-Clinton) in the Democratic Primary. With support from the trial lawyer community, Ross would be a strong viable candidate against Dale, who recently angered some of his Republican supporters by saying at the Jefferson-Jackson Dinner that Mississippians are all Democrats at heart. Ross would not have to resign from the College Board to run. Assistant Attorney General Jonathan Compretta (D-Bay St. Louis), son of Representative J.P. Compretta (D-Bay St. Louis) has also been mentioned as a challenger, though Democrats opposing Dale suggest Ross puts him out of the race. Aaron "Lucky" Dupuy (R-Jackson) has already qualified as a Republican candidate, but Republicans insiders are now looking for another candidate thinking Dale may lose in the Democratic Primary.

Public Service Commissioner Nielsen Cochran (R-Byram) announced at the Fair that he is running for reelection and will not be seeking a higher office in 2003. Transportation Commissioner Dick Hall (R-Brandon) seems likely to run for reelection, but has not ruled out a run for governor or even retirement. Hall said confidently that he would NOT seek the office of lieutenant governor. Ophthalmologist and term-limits activist Randy Russell (R-Jackson) does seem to be in the lieutenant governor's race.

State Auditor Phil Bryant (R-Brandon) reaffirmed that he would NOT be running for governor in 2003. But several cabins reported that Haley Barbour (R-Yazoo City) was making the rounds and shaking hands. He still hasn't announced his plans (waiting until after the November election) but is expected to run for governor.

Gulfport attorney Jess Dickinson made the big speech of the Fair calling trial-lawyers abusing the legal system "ticks on a hound dog's ear." His race against incumbent Supreme Court Justice Chuck McRae seems to be going strong. Sources familiar with the polling place McRae's negatives outweighing his positives 2 to 1.

The Great Pickering-Shows Debate was all it was expected to be. Pickering had the advantages, Neshoba County is part of his old district, he has a cabin a stone's throw from the Pavilion, and his supporters outnumbered Shows supporters. The Pickering Campaign used the opportunity to remind the crowd that Shows didn't even want Neshoba County in the new Third District (the Tornado Plan would have excluded it). The Pickering campaign also had fans with Ronnie Shows' picture on one side and Hillary Clinton on the other. The tag on the bottom of the Shows side read: "Compliments of: The Liberal Fan Company - Bassfield, Mississippi - Model: I.O.U." The tag on the bottom of the Clinton side read: "Compliments of: The Liberal Fan Company - New York, New York - Model: HRC $5000." Pickering took off the gloves and countered Shows' attacks during the debate. A clearly frustrated Shows even turned on the crowd at one point telling them that while they were booing then, they would really be booing when they all lost their jobs. There have been several debates since, with the next one occurring Wednesday, August 28 at the Jim Buck Ross Agricultural Museum in Jackson.

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Round Up
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Everyone wants to know what Attorney General Mike Moore's plans are for the future, but no one seems to know. The conventional wisdom is that he will not run for Governor or he would be working toward that already. He also will not run for reelection, but doesn't want to become a lame duck and will not announce it till late this year or early next year. The problem with conventional wisdom is, it can be wrong.

If Moore does not run for reelection, Democrats consider a race between Representative Randy "Bubba" Pierce (Leakesville) and former Supreme Court Judge Jim Roberts (Pontotoc). Republicans look for a primary between Delbert Hosemann (Jackson) and Andy Taggart (Flora).

At the Democratic State Executive Committee on August 16, members were informed that the State Election Commission had notified the Party of a vacancy on the Democratic Nomination for Senate. Steven Turney, the nominee, withdrew for health reasons. Ten individuals were selected to be on a nominating committee to choose a new candidate: Chairman Josephina Zorzoli (Desoto County) and Bobby Sacus (Monroe County) from the First District, Emma Maxine Smith and Bryant Clark (both from Holmes County) from the Second District, Gail Smith (Scott County) and Ike Brown (Noxubee County) from the Third District, Estelle Christian (Jones County) and Terry Johnson (Hinds County) from the Fourth District, and Sheila Maki (Jackson County) and James Mills (Wayne County) from the Fifth District. Representative Erik Fleming (Jackson) and Charles Ivy (who first sought the Democratic nomination against then Congressman Cochran in 1974, placing fourth in a five man race) both sought the nomination against Cochran. The committee voted 5-4 to recommend Fleming but the State Executive Committee turned down that nomination 20-15, deciding instead to field no candidate against Cochran.

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Local Politics
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Amite County: Acting Superintendent of Schools Mary Russ will face Charles Kirkfield and Glen Huff in the upcoming election. Qualifying deadline is September 6.

Canton (Madison County): The long delayed municipal elections will be held October 22 with party primaries on September 24 and run-offs (if any) on October 8. Incumbent Mayor Alice Scott will meet Isiac Jackson Jr, pastor of Liberty Missionary Baptist Church, in the Democratic Primary. The winner will face independents Fred Esco (formerly Ward 5 Alderman for 18 years and 1997 mayoral candidate) and the 72-year-old Elizabeth Parsons who has never before run for public office. In other races: Alderman at Large - (D) William Truly (incumbent), (D) Jerry Lousteau, (I) Thomas Johnson; Ward 1 - (D) Bill Mosby (incumbent), (D) Leroy Luckett, (D) Joe Ann Pheal; Ward 2 - (D) Jon Flynn (incumbent), (I) Edward V. Thompson; Ward 3 - (D) S.K. Desai (incumbent), (D) Cleotha Williams, (I) Charles Weems, (I) Gregory Johnson; Ward 4 - (D) Louis Smith (incumbent), (D) Robert Chinn, (D) Jimmy McKay, (D) Dorthy Thornton, (I) James Thompson; Ward 5 - (D) Kenneth Wayne Jones (incumbent), (D) Milton Harper, (I) Clarence Pace; Ward 6 - Eric Gilkey (incumbent). No Republicans are running. The race for Ward 3 should be particularly interesting pitting Desai and Weems against each other. Weems served as Ward 3 alderman until late last year when he resigned to become interim Chancery Clerk, but was defeated in a special election for the office by now Clerk Mike Crook. Desai won the special election for the Ward 3 post when Weems stepped down.

Richland: A special election is scheduled for September 17 to fill the vacated seat of Alderwoman Clara Nell Mancil on the Board of Aldermen. Mancil resigned July 23 citing health reasons. She was in her first full term after being elected in February 2000 from a field of 11 candidates in a special election following the death of Alderman Vernon Neely. Qualifying deadline for candidates is September 6.

Jackson County: Frances Lynch has withdrawn from the race for Jackson County Youth Court judge and has accepted a position at the Barton and Williams law firm in Pascagoula. This decision leaves incumbent Judge Maxine Lawson-Conway and attorney Sharon W. Sigalas of Pascagoula November 5 ballot. Lawson-Conway was appointed by Governor Ronnie Musgrove to fill the unexpired term of Kimberly Starks.

Lauderdale County: Democrat Melvin Wright has qualified for the November 5 special election for District 4 Supervisor covering southwest Meridian and southwest Lauderdale County. The seat came open when Q.V. Sykes died of lung cancer July 14. Sykes' wife Laura was appointed by the Board of Supervisors to fill out his term until the special election, but she will not be running for the seat. Joe Norwood, who lost to Sykes in the 1999 Democratic Primary by 11 votes, is expected to also be in the race. Qualifying deadline is September 6.

Lawrence County: For more than twenty years, Annette Applewhite held the post of Tax Assessor/Collector, but she announced her resignation in June. The Board of Supervisors has appointed Jeff Peterson to fill the role until the special election on November 5. Peterson has qualified to run as have several others including: Kenneth R. Allen of Jayess, Heather Sistrunk Barton of Monticello, Greg T. Jones of New Hebron, Donna Pippin Sandifer of Monticello and Sherry Hyde-Thames of Monticello. More are expected; qualifying deadline is September 6. As for the District 5 school board race, two term incumbent Mitchell Barnes does not plan to run for reelection, but few residents have yet to show interest in running.

Madison County: So far the race for Madison County tax collector is between Ridgeland Alderwoman Linda Davis Trunzler and Kay Pace of Canton, a 15-year employee of the tax collector's office. The race is to fill the unexpired term of Bruce Bennett who recently passed away; he held the office for 14 years. Johnette Stone, another long time employee of the office, was appointed to fill the office until the special election, but she will not be a candidate.

McComb (Pike County): Incumbent Mayor J.C. Woods has run into competition for his reelection bid. Stanley Everett and Tom Walman have filed to run against him. Everett is Pike County coordinator for Congressman Ronnie Shows' campaign and Walman is a former McComb city attorney and a local attorney. They are all Democrats. Republican Bradley Creel, owner of Magee Feeds, has qualified to run for Ward 1 Selectman against incumbent Democrat Danny Esch. Charles E. Lumpkin will be running for Selectman in Ward 2 against former selectman Bobby Maddox. The ward is currently represented by Whitney Rawlings who is not seeking re-election.

Oktibbeha County: Three local offices will be up for grabs in November with qualifying deadline on September 6. There will be a special election for the at-large seat on the Oktibbeha County School Board, vacated by the resignation of Jimmy Franks and a regularly scheduled election for the school board's District 5 seat currently held by Board Chairman Jossie Redmond. Also up for election is the District 2 seat on the county election commission, vacated by the death of Joe Leonard.

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Fundraisers
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On August 7, President George W. Bush came in to town to do a free campaign event with Congressman Chip Pickering at Madison Central High School and went on to conduct a $1000 a head fundraiser for Pickering and a $25,000 a head reception fundraiser for the Mississippi Republican Party. Estimates are $500,000 was raised at each event.

On August 15, The Congressional Black Caucus PAC held its third fundraiser in Tunica. The event featured seminars, a golf tournament and concerts with Patti LaBelle, The Whispers and The Manhattans. A special emphasis was placed on gaming issues. The goal was to raise $1 million from individuals, corporations and lobbyists from the casino, tobacco, labor and automotive industries.

On August 17, former Second District Congressman and Secretary of Agriculture Mike Espy held a fundraiser for Congressman Ronnie Shows in his home.

On August 24, the Mississippi Democratic Party held the 21st annual Jefferson-Jackson Dinner with keynote speakers Mike Espy, former 2nd District Congressman and Secretary of Agriculture; and US Senator Blanche Lincoln of Arkansas. Governor Ronnie Musgrove and Insurance Commissioner George Dale were among the elected officials present. Lieutenant Governor Amy Tuck and Agriculture Commissioner Lester Spell were noticeably absent. Marshall Bennett didn't attend due to his son's wedding. Tickets were $100.

On August 26, Governor Ronnie Musgrove hosted the "Governor's Cup" at English Turn in New Orleans for the "Ronnie Musgrove Campaign." Hole sponsorships were $1000 with $500 per golfer to play.

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MagnoliaReport.com Polls
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MagnoliaReport.com has conducted three polls since the last report. Here are the results.

Predict the Third District Race outcome. [484 votes total]

Pickering wins landslide (40) 8%
Shows wins landslide (22) 5%
Pickering wins 58%-42% (59) 12%
Shows wins 58%-42% (15) 3%
Pickering wins 55%-45% (117) 24%
Shows wins 55%-45% (11) 2%
Pickering wins 52%-48% (45) 9%
Shows wins 52%-48% (32) 7%
Pickering wins in squeaker (27) 6%
Shows wins in squeaker (116) 24%

Who should be the next Attorney General? [1537 votes total]

Marshall Bennett (D-Tchula) (27) 2%
Michael Callahan (D-Hattiesburg) (12) 1%
Mark Garriga (R-Ridgeland) (67) 4%
Delbert Hosemann (R-Jackson) (375) 24%
Scott Newton (R-Ridgeland) (214) 14%
"Bubba" Pierce (D-Leakesville) (439) 29%
Jim Roberts (D-Pontotoc) (31) 2%
Andy Taggart (R-Flora) (277) 18%
Someone Else (31) 2%
Forgot About It - Mike Moore Again (64) 4%

Who should be the next Speaker of the House? [564 votes total]

Robert Clark (D-Lexington) (64) 11%
Steve Holland (D-Plantersville) (135) 24%
Billy McCoy (D-Rienzi) (63) 11%
Bobby Moody (D-Louisville) (33) 6%
Jim Simpson (R-Long Beach) (100) 18%
Joe Warren (D-Mount Olive) (22) 4%
Keep Tim Ford (D-Baldwyn) (61) 11%
Other Democrat (36) 6%
Other Republican (50) 9%

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Movers and Shakers
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Governor Ronnie Musgrove appointed Thurmond Beasley of Tupelo to the Mississippi State Board of Dental Examiners for a term ending June 30, 2006.

Quinton Dickerson, Press Secretary for Congressman Chip Pickering, has gone on board with the campaign staff as of August 1. Replacing him in the congressional office is Cade King.

Clay Hardy, Mississippi Federation of College Republicans Chairman (2001-2002) has gone on board with the Clinton LeSueur campaign as a general staffer.

President George W. Bush appointed Keith Hennessey as Deputy Assistant to the President for Economic Policy and Deputy Director of the National Economic Council. Hennessey joins the White House from Capitol Hill where he has been working for Senate Republican Leader Trent Lott for over five years, most recently as Policy Director.

The head of the US Immigration and Naturalization Service, James W. Ziglar, announced his resignation recently. Ziglar began his tenure as commissioner on Aug. 6, 2001. A Mississippi native and boyhood friend of Senate Minority Leader Trent Lott, he served as the Senate's sergeant-at-arms for three years before taking charge of the INS.

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Upcoming Political Dates of Note
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August 28 (Wednesday)
Pickering-Shows Debate
Jim Buck Ross Agricultural Museum; Jackson; 1PM

September 6 (Friday)
Qualifying Deadline for Special Elections; School Board Elections

September 11 (Wednesday)
Anniversary of 9-11 Terror Attacks

September 24 (Tuesday)
Canton Municipal Primary

September 25-26 (Wednesday-Thursday)
Court Date of Skelton v MS Democratic Party

October 8 (Tuesday)
Canton Municipal Primary Run-Offs

October 10 (Thursday)
Judicial Campaign Finance Report
Periodic Report Due

October 19 (Saturday)
Senators Thad Cochran, Trent Lott
Bay St. Louis Historic Train Depot
Car Show, Music, Bar-B-Q Chicken
All Day, Dinner served noon till gone

October 22 (Tuesday)
Canton Municipal Election

October 29 (Tuesday)
Judicial Campaign Finance Report
Pre-Election Report Due

November 5 (Tuesday)
General Election

November 19 (Tuesday)
Run-Off Elections (Where Necessary)

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Final Word
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Magnolia Political Report, 2002
Brian Perry, Editor
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