Political Report #31
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Magnolia Political Report
November 12, 2002
(Number 31) - Web Version
www.MagnoliaReport.com
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Campaign 2003
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With just over 100 days until the March 1 qualifying deadline for county, legislative and statewide elections, there seems to be little movement in the eight top ticket races and only minor excitement in the six district wide races.
All statewide Democratic elected officials: Gov Ronnie Musgrove (Batesville), Lt Gov Amy Tuck (Maben), Secretary of State Eric Clark (Smith County), Attorney General Mike Moore (Pascagoula), Treasurer Marshall Bennett (Tchula), Insurance Commissioner George Dale (Prentiss), Agriculture Commissioner Lester Spell (Richland) - as well as the lone Republican statewide official, Auditor Phil Bryant (Brandon) - are expected to seek reelection to their current posts next year.
GOVERNOR: Observers anticipate a tough race between Musgrove and Republican Haley Barbour (Yazoo City) for the Mansion, although both will likely face a party primary first. Jim Keenan (R-Jackson) has begun campaigning and putting up yard signs while Elder McLendon (D-Hattiesburg) has already qualified. State Flag activist John Thomas Cripps (I-Wiggins) announced in May of 2000 that he would be running for governor, and Sheriff Marvin Breazeale (I-Purvis) said last year he too was considering a run.
LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR: Tuck may see a hefty challenge from Congressman Ronnie Shows (Bassfield) in the Democratic Primary, as well as face a potential independently qualifying Senator Barbara Blackmon (D-Canton), and a Republican nominee, in the general election. Republican names floating about for the number two spot include Federal Surface Transportation Board Member Wayne Burkes (Clinton), Southaven Mayor Greg Davis and physician and activist Randy Russell (Jackson), among others. A recent column by Terry Cassreino in the Meridian Star also lists Agriculture Commissioner Lester Spell and Representative Steve Holland as potential challengers in the Democratic Primary.
ATTORNEY GENERAL: While he has been viewed as a potential challenger to Musgrove for the Democratic nomination for governor, and also thought to leave elected office for private practice, Attorney General Mike Moore is now expected to be leaning toward reelection. Republican names Andy Taggart (Flora) and Delbert Hosemann (Jackson) have both been mentioned as challengers to Moore. Political observers speculate Moore may choose to run for the US Senate in 2006 or 2008.
INSURANCE COMMISIONER: Speculation was that Dale would not seek reelection, but earlier this year he announced he would seek an eighth term next November. The trial lawyer lobby, upset with Dale's strong pro-tort reform position, has said they will seek a candidate against him in the Democratic Primary. One name floating around to fill this position has been that of Scott Ross (West Point), A Musgrove appointee to the Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning Board. Republican Aaron "Lucky" Dupuy III (Jackson) has already qualified.
THE REST: Potential candidates are eyeing the posts of Clark, Bryant, Bennett and Spell but have yet to make much political movement on those runs.
PSC: All three Public Service Commissioners Nielsen Cochran (R), Michael Callahan (D), and Bo Robinson (D) appear to be seeking reelection. Cochran had been rumored as a potential lieutenant governor or governor candidate, but attempted to cap those rumors in his Neshoba County Fair Speech last year. Still, rumors persist.
MDOT: While Dick Hall (R) has also been mentioned as a candidate for top ticket races, he is expected to join Wayne Brown (D) in returning to their Transportation Commissioner seats. Meanwhile Northern District Transportation Commissioner Zack Stewart (D) is not running again. DeSoto County Supervisor John Caldwell (R) is campaigning for this spot. Other names rumored include Senators Bill Minor (D) and Alan Nunnelee (R) and former Representative Terry Brown (R).
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Round Up
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Despite losing reelection to the Supreme Court to a political newcomer - Gulfport Attorney Jess Dickinson - Chuck McRae may yet reach the position of Chief Justice. McRae is next in line for the post behind current Chief Ed Pittman. Court observers expect Pittman to retire before the end of his term in January of 2005, but McRae will remain on the Court until January of 2004. Supreme Court races are scheduled during years with Congressional races, meaning this was the last available race before McRae's term ended since the campaign could not be conducted next year. If Pittman does not remain on the court for an additional year, McRae would become Chief Justice. After McRae, the next judges in line for the top of the Bench are Justice Jim Smith and then Justice Bill Waller, Jr.
The Chip Pickering Campaign has put out a call to volunteers to return yard signs and posts to Republican Party Headquarters. The e-mail call says, "These signs are expensive and may certainly be used again. In addition, the metal stakes are expensive, so we want to recycle them, as well...Of course, we also want to collect these signs off of public property, because it is simply the right thing to do."
Republican control of the Senate spells good news for Mississippi's federal appropriations, and you can spell that news "TnT" for "Thad and Trent." Trent Lott will return to his position as Senate Majority Leader while Thad Cochran will assume the chairmanship of the Senate Agriculture Committee, and in two years will assume the chairmanship of the Senate Appropriations Committee. Until then, Cochran will also hold the chairmanship of the Agriculture subcommittee on the Senate Appropriations Committee giving him effective control over the federal farm bill for 2004 and beyond (though insiders note that Cochran has long held agricultural bi-partisan power in Washington, anyway).
Senator Trent Lott has moved quickly in the return to his "cat herding" job as future Majority Leader by giving assurances to Republicans that the new GOP majority would address issues including passing a ban on "partial birth abortion," as well as act on the nomination of Judge Charles Pickering to the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals. Pickering's name was never withdrawn so Lott can act on the measure at his own schedule.
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Politics Online
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The Smith County Republican Party has a web site at www.angelfire.com/ms3/smithgop with local Republican events, links to political web sites, and a frequently updated column "A View from the Right." by Pete Howell.
The Madison County Republican Party is giving away four free Sugar Bowl tickets on their web site. To be eligible you must join the Madison County Republican Party before the drawing. You can join by clicking on the web site www.madisongop.org or by contacting any Madison County Republican Executive Committee member. The drawing will be in mid-December.
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Unofficial Election Results
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US Senate
Thad Cochran (R) 514,041 - 85%
Shawn O'Hara (F) 92,915 - 15%
1st District
Roger Wicker (R) 92,245 - 71%
Brenda Blackburn (F) 3,406 - 3%
Harold Taylor (L) 2,807 - 2%
Rex Weathers (D) 30,975 - 24%
2nd District
Bennie Thompson (D) 83,844 - 54%
Clinton LeSueur (R) 67,027 - 43%
Lee Dilworth (F) 4,690 - 3%
3rd District
Chip Pickering (R) 137,380 - 64%
Ronnie Shows (D) 74,720 - 35%
Harvey Darden (I) 944 - 0%
Jim Giles (I) 1,404 - 1%
Carroll Grantham (F) 492 - 0%
Brad McDonald (L) 744 - 0%
4th District
Gene Taylor (D) 118,835 - 75%
Thomas Huffmaster (F) 3,233 - 2%
Karl Mertz (R) 33,509 - 21%
Wayne Parker (L) 2,390 - 2%
State Supreme Court
Larry Buffington 58,551 - 25%
Jess Dickinson 125,318 - 52%
Chuck McRae 55,101 - 23%
Appeals District 1
Ralph Doxey 34,234 - 36%
Roger McMillin 61,939 - 64%
Appeals District 3
Jim Brantley 66,715 - 44%
Kenny Griffis 84,689 - 56%
Constitutional Amendment
Yes 210,288 - 38%
No 336,152 - 62%
Senate District 5
Christi Antillon-Webb 2,011 - 15%
Rodney Beasley 834 - 6%
Kenneth E. Floyd II 620 - 5%
Lin Floyd 197 - 1%
Cliff Long 921 - 7%
George Waddell 1,356 - 10%
R! Charles E. Walden 2,430 - 18%
William "Bill" White 697 - 5%
R! J.P. Wilemon Jr. 4,261 - 32%
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Movers and Shakers
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Former Neshoba County Sheriff Lawrence Andrew Rainey Sr died Friday November 8 of throat cancer. He was charged with civil rights violations relating to the deaths of James Earl Chaney, Andrew Goodman and Michael Schwerner during 1964's "Freedom Summer." He was acquitted.
Shannon Mayor G.A. Herndon resigned last week due to health issues and private business demands. A special election will be held December 10 to fill this position and that of Alderman David Homan who vacated his post to be appointed Lee County fire coordinator. Qualifying deadline is November 29.
Representative Ed Blackmon Jr (D-Canton) was involved in a car accident on I-55 near the Nissan manufacturing plant last week. Raymond Britt III was injured while driving a work truck painting stripes and attaching reflectors to the roadway. Britt was treated and released from St. Dominic-Jackson Memorial Hospital.
Congressman Ronnie Shows has scheduled shoulder surgery in December. According to Shows he slipped on the White House steps and tore his rotator cuff on October 16. He refrained from surgery during the recent race so as not to hinder the campaign with an unshakable hand while healing.
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Final Word - Lucky #55
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"I turned 55 last week and I told my firm in Washington that when I turned 55, I'd give up management. Little did I know I would seriously be considering becoming governor." - Haley Barbour, Bolivar Commercial: November 1, 2002
"It's fair to say I've been to 55 counties this year and will go to some more next week, that I am seriously considering running for governor but that I haven't made a final decision." - Haley Barbour, Clarion Ledger: November 9, 2002
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Magnolia Political Report, 2002
Josh Gregory, Editor
MagnoliaReport.com
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© Magnolia Political Report 2002 • PO Box 24233 Jackson, Mississippi 39225
FAX 601.355.7885 • scoop@magnoliareport.com
Josh Gregory, Editor |
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