Magnolia Political Report

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The Magnolia Political Report for September 17, 2002

Magnolia Report 27

Be Sure to Visit the Magnolia Report Headlines for the Latest Mississippi Political News!

Magnolia Political Report
September 17, 2002
(Number 27) - Web Version
www.MagnoliaReport.com

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Rumor Mill
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Rumor has it, Chelsea Clinton, daughter of ex-President Bill Clinton, was a guest in the Chancellor's Press Box at the Ole Miss football game against Louisiana-Monroe in Oxford on August 31. Some suggest she is considering a law degree from the University of Mississippi. Her mother, Senator Hillary Clinton (D-NY) and UM Vice Chancellor Carolyn Ellis Staton attended Yale Law School together. Earlier that week, Chelsea was spotted in Natchez.

Rumors in Washington suggest that Under Secretary of Agriculture Bill Hawks could be the next Secretary of Agriculture as Ann Veneman may make her exit. Such a departure and move could take several years, meaning it may require a Bush reelection in 2004 to come to fruition. If so, Hawks would be only the sixth cabinet member ever from Mississippi, the most recent of which (and the only one in the 20th century) was former 2nd District Congressman Mike Espy, who served as Secretary of Agriculture under President Bill Clinton.

The Rumor Mill 2003 page at MagnoliaReport.com is modified from time to time, removing some rumors as they drift off, adding others as they develop. Added since the last report is Wayne Dowdy (D) for Governor and Jim Keenan (R) for Governor. Dowdy was named in an article on September 14 by Bob Pittman in The Times of South Mississippi as a legitimate challenger to Governor Musgrove in the Democratic Primary. Political observers are reminded of the 1991 Mabus Campaign. Keenan was in the Republican Primary race in 1999 with the theme "Our Mississippi: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow" but dropped out. Keenan is a financial consultant.

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Round Up
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A survey conducted by the Marketing Research Institute (Commissioned by the Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation) in June 2002 reported the following: 69% felt some or strongly that the liability lawsuit system should be improved; 63% believed Mississippi's reputation has been hurt nationally because of lawsuits; 66% favor or strongly favor placing limits on lawsuits awards; 53% favor or strongly favor limiting punitive damages; 56% favored or strongly favored the stop of venue shopping; 83% would be more likely or strongly more likely to vote to reelect legislators that supported tort reform.

In the #587, September 3 edition of the Southern Political Report (www.southernpoliticalreport.com) Hastings Wyman says, "Gov. Ronnie Musgrove (D) praised US Rep. Ronnie Shows (D), in a close race with US Rep. Chip Pickering (R), as 'a candidate of the people' who's 'ability to connect with seniors may make the difference in the race.' As for his own plans in 2003, Musgrove says he has made no reelection announcement, but cites his achievements 'in education and jobs for our people...I would like to see those accomplishments continue.'"

While many Republicans are excited about the prospects of a Haley Barbour nomination for governor in 2003, some Democrats continue to dismiss the possibility. One reader from Jackson mailed in a bumper sticker to MagnoliaReport.com: all black with white printing, "HALEY BARBOUR FOR GOVERNOR / 1-800-HA-HA-HA-HA".

On September 25, First Lady Laura Bush will be making a stop in Greenville for the "Teach for America" program.

As reported last issue, Governor Ronnie Musgrove held a fundraiser at English Turn Golf Course in New Orleans last month. Hole sponsorships were $1000 with $500 per golfer to play. A Republican operative noted that the same time Musgrove would have been engaged in the fundraiser, the Southern Governors' Association was holding a seminar in New Orleans on "Leadership, Management and Homeland Security in a Post-9/11 World" with keynote speaker Rudy Giuliani (R), former Mayor of New York. The operative asked if Musgrove is more interested in Homeland Security or Campaign Security. Furthermore, the operative noted, the contact for the fundraiser was Michael Boyd, the Governor's Policy and Planning Director.

Demonstrating the importance of the Mississippi Third Congressional District race, the September 2002 edition of "Campaigns and Elections" features Congressmen Chip Pickering and Ronnie Shows as the subjects of the "Career Paths" column. The half-page bio on each candidate describes how they got to where they are today, discussing briefly their lives and political history.

RollCall.com's September 12 "Heard on the Hill" by Ed Henry noted that "While Rep. Ronnie Shows (D-Miss.) is running campaign ads that tout the fact that he's a political outsider who snubs the Washington cocktail party circuit, the memo has apparently not made its way to his staff. 'A good Congressman has to plant his feet right here in Mississippi instead of some Washington cocktail party,' Shows says in a TV ad for his grudge match with Rep. Chip Pickering (R-Miss.)." Henry continued with a bit of sarcasm that Republican operatives were shocked then to get a copy of an invitation for a cocktail party held at Shows' Washington office. "'Come enjoy the last few days of recess with us,' said the invite, which was decorated with two martini glasses at the top, sent out by five Shows staffers. Shows spokeswoman Julie Karant insisted that it was merely 'an informal social event that had nothing to do with the office.' (Except for the fact that it was held in Shows' Longworth office.) 'It was held in the hallway,' she said, adding, 'It wasn't a cocktail party. There was beer.'" Henry said Karant called the Republican comments "gutless and brainless."

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Online Updates
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Several political pages have significant updates or are new to Mississippi's cyber world. Conservative and Republican candidates can visit www.kudzu-consulting.com for political consulting involving websites, fundraising and data base management. Swan Yerger, Senior Circuit Court Judge in Hinds County has a campaign web site at www.reelectyerger.com and www.thadforsenate.com is the web address for US Senator Thad Cochran's (R) campaign. The Madison County Republican Party has a presence at www.madisongop.org and at www.belhavencollegerepublicans.8m.com you can visit the Belhaven College Republicans. While not a new page, www.pickeringforcongress.com has a few updated features including a campaign photo page and the video and audio for three of Chip Pickering's television campaign commercials.

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Local Politics
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Clay County - There are two candidates for the upcoming coroner special election on November 5. Alvin Carter Jr. will run against current Clay County Coroner Paula Massey, who was appointed in 2001 after the death of Carter's father Alvin Carter Sr, then long time Clay County Coroner.

George County - Sheriff George Miller Sr resigned citing health problems. The board of supervisors appointed former justice court judge Don Parnell to finish out the term ending January 2004. Miller had been in office since 1996 and is battling legal problems, including federal charges that he threatened a witness and committed perjury in a civil trial. If convicted of the felony charges, he could face 15 years in prison, a $500K fine and be removed from office. Parnell is not expected to run for reelection in 2003. Meanwhile, four candidates qualified to run for school board positions: Stephen "Porkie" Maples (Benndale) is running for his third six-year term representing District 5. He will be challenged by Barkley Henderson (Twin Creek). In District 3, appointed incumbent Derrick Scott and challenger Larry McDonald, both of Basin, have qualified.

Harrison County - Supervisors have called a Confederate Battle Flag issue to a countywide vote on November 5. The following options will be on the ballot. Option 1: I favor the current display of the Confederate Battle Flag at the Eight Flags display on the Sand Beach, located south of the intersection of DeBuys Road and U.S. 90. Option 2: I oppose the current display of the Confederate Battle Flag at the Eight Flags display on the Sand Beach, located south of the intersection of DeBuys Road and U.S. 90.

Hernando - District 5 school board member Darrell Hopper will be defending his post against challenger Janet Osborne in the November election. Hopper has served one term. Osborne is a "stay-at-home mom."

Itawamba County - The $7.7 million school bond issue passed with 60.08% of the vote last Tuesday. Unofficial results showed 2,158 people, or 60.08 percent, approved the measure, while 1,434, or 39.92 percent voted against it. The decision came down to 39 affidavit ballots. Of those, 22 voted for the bond issue and 17 against it.

Lawrence County - Appointed incumbent Jeff Peterson faces a challenge from several candidates for Tax Assessor/Collector. Kenneth Allen (Jayess), Antrease Magee Autman (Monticello), Heather Sistrunk-Barton (Monticello), Greg Jones (New Hebron), Donna Pippin Sandifer (Monticello), Sherry Hyde Thames (Monticello) and Mike Wilson (Monticello) are all seeking the post vacated by the resignation of Annette Applewhite who had served that position for two decades. Meanwhile, Marjorie Davis Lucas and Jimmy Speights (both of Silver Creek) are seeking to fill the District 5 school board post after incumbent Mitchell Barnes decided not to file for reelection.

Lincoln County - Special elections for coroner, district attorney and district 3 election commissioner are not contested nor is the post of school board district 3. However, Steve Rushing, an investigator with the sheriff's department, will challenge incumbent James Keene for the District 4 school board seat. The county school district's $3.8 million bond issue election is set for today. 60% plus one votes are needed to pass.

McComb (Pike County) - Two more individuals qualified for Mayor of McComb. DeLois Haynes entered as an independent in this his first attempt at public office. Businessman Julius Thomas, also in his first political run, filed as a Democrat. These men join incumbent J.C. Woods, Stanley Everett and Tom Walman, all Democrats. In addition to the candidates listed in the last Magnolia Report, there are also races for Ward 4 Alderman between incumbent Melvin Joe Johnson and Randall Allen, and for Ward 5 Alderman between incumbent Robert Earl Smith and Warren Ellis Gilmore; all four men are Democrats. Independent Ike Fesmire will challenge incumbent Selectman Marvin Godbold and Theodore Bullock (both Democrats) for selectman-at-large.

Olive Branch - Ward 3 Alderman Steve Dawson resigned effective August 31. A special election for this seat will be held on October 15 with any needed runoff on October 22. Dawson is moving to Atlanta and was in his second term. Qualifying deadline is October 4 with three candidates so far: Don Brown, Olive Branch Police Officer Bob Lincoln and Herald Henderson, who ran against Dawson in the 2001 election.

Rankin County - Today is Election Day with four candidates on the ballot in the special election for Richland alderman and two candidates for Justice Court Judge District 1. Robert Craft, Tommy Eady, Don McMillin and Anthony Moore are competing to fill the Richland alderman post vacated by Clara Nell Mancil due to health reasons. Appointed incumbent Judge Richard Redfern (Richland) is being challenged by C.F. "Charlie" Tillman (Florence). Redfern was appointed to succeed Billy Ray Mangum who retired because of health concerns after 30 years on the bench.

Union County - Four candidates have qualified for the county election commission seat: Louise Owen, Mary Beaty, Robert Armstrong and Wayne Wilhite. Owen is the widow of Rudolph Owen who died in July, creating the vacancy. She was appointed by the board of supervisors to serve in her late husband's place until the special election could be held in November. In addition, two candidates are in the race for school board: incumbent Dr. James R. Bryson and challenger Wayne Mahon.

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MagnoliaReport.com Poll
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The latest MagnoliaReport.com Poll asked in late August, "How will the special session turn out?" 132 votes were cast with the following results. Stay tuned for the next poll in a couple of days.

Nothing Happens (77) 58%
Musgrove's Prison Bill Only (13) 10%
Prison and Medical Relief (22) 17%
Prison, Medical Relief, Tort Reform (18) 14%
Other (2) 2%

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Movers and Shakers
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President George W. Bush appointed William Bynum of Mississippi to be Community Development Financial Institution Representative on the Community Development Advisory Board, for the remainder of a four-year term expiring November 27, 2003.

Sam Hall, managing editor of The Natchez Democrat, will be moving to Northeast Mississippi as publisher of The Houston Times-Post and The Calhoun City Monitor-Herald and president of Houston Newspapers Inc. Hall came to Natchez from The Rankin Record in October 2001. His weekly column on Mississippi politics will continue to publish in The Democrat each Wednesday. Kerry Whipple, managing editor of The Alexander City Outlook (Alabama), will replace Hall at The Democrat. Whipple was news editor of The Democrat for two years prior to going to Alexander City. The Democrat, The Times-Post, The Monitor-Herald and The Alexander City Outlook are all part of the Boone Newspapers Inc. organization.

Starkville Ward 3 Alderman P.C. "Mac" McLaurin Jr. was named a member of the National Association of Counties Finance and Intergovernmental Affairs Steering Committee.

Representative Steve Holland (D-Tupelo) has been installed as chairman of the Agriculture and Rural Development Committee of the Southern Legislative Conference.

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Final Word
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"[The Chinese] are building the largest military in the world - the largest military. Do you remember World War II and who attacked us at Pearl Harbor when we would be selling that scrap metal to, folks, can we not see something coming? We're got terrorists we're fighting all over the world now. We've got an army that's got 25 million people over there." - Congressman Ronnie Shows in a recent debate with Congressman Chip Pickering.

"Nothing is over until we decide it is! Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor? Hell no!...And it ain't over now. 'Cause when the going gets tough . . . the tough get going. Who's with me? Let's Go! Come on! AAAAEEEEEGGGHHHH!!" -Bluto Blutarsky in National Lampoon's Animal House, 1978

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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