Political Report #33
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Magnolia Political Report
December 17, 2002
(Number 33) - E-mail Version
www.MagnoliaReport.com
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2003 Campaigns
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GOVERNOR - Former National Republican Party Chairman Haley Barbour (R-Yazoo City) has filed a statement of organization in order to receive campaign contributions for a possible run for governor of Mississippi in 2003. Henry Barbour, nephew and spokesman for the elder Barbour had received campaign contributions, and by law, he was required to file the statement of organization within 10 days of receiving money.
LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR - On December 5, WAPT reported that "Rep. Ronnie Shows is getting closer to announcing his run for lieutenant governor. When Lt. Gov. Amy Tuck switched parties, Shows took notice. He has had his eye on the office since he was defeated in November's congressional election...'I wouldn't run if I couldn't beat her...We're going to raise money, and we're going to do it the right way, and we're going to get in there and show them the difference in the candidates.'" Another big name being mentioned by Democrats to challenge Tuck is Senator Barbara Blackmon of Canton.
TREASURER - After meeting with GOP officials in Jackson, Southaven Mayor Greg Davis continues to consider a run for the state treasurer's seat in 2003 against Democrat incumbent Marshall Bennett. Davis was considered earlier by Republicans to run against Lt. Gov. Amy Tuck, but when she switched parties, he supported her decision and decided not to make a primary challenge. Davis served as a state representative from District 7 from 1991 to 1997, succeeding novelist John Grisham (D) and preceding Wanda Jennings (R). His term as mayor expires in 2005.
SENATE 19 - Merle Flowers (R-Southaven), aide to Congressman Roger Wicker (R-MS1) has filed paperwork necessary to begin receiving contributions for a run for the newly created District 19 Senate seat. Flowers has served as district manager of Wicker's Southaven office since 1997. While not officially announcing his candidacy yet, according to the DeSoto Times, "the committee would work toward that end." Currently, no Democrat challengers have emerged to run for this post.
SENATE 35 - Senator Rob Smith (D-Richland) has already drawn two Republican candidates for the Senate 35 race. Perry Lee (R-Mendenhall) has announced his intention of seeking the Republican Party nomination for the post. Lee is retired after 30 years of service with the Cooperative Extension Service. Cliff Brown (R-Magee) joins the race with more than 20 years of Air Force technical and leadership training with the Mississippi Air National Guard. His campaign web site www.electcliffbrown.com lists contact information as well as his beliefs and campaign platform. Rob Smith has served in the Senate since 1985 with four years previous in the Mississippi House. The new District 35 has portions of Simpson, Rankin, Covington and Copiah Counties.
SENATE 45 - Senator Ron Farris (R-Hattiesburg) announced he would not seek reelection in 2003 to his District 45 seat that includes Forrest and Lamar counties. He currently has no plans to seek another political office.
HOUSE 6 - While recruited and encouraged by local Republicans, Southaven city administrator Chris Wilson, will not be a candidate for the House District 6 seat being vacated by retiring Valeria Robertson (R-Olive Branch). Olive Branch pharmacist Forrest Hamilton has already qualified for this seat.
HOUSE 24 - Grenada physician Sidney W. Bondurant will be challenging Representative Donny Ryals (D-Grenada) for his House District 24 seat. Bondurant has said he would run as an independent, but some Republicans still hope him to consider their party in the campaign.
HOUSE 40 - In addition to Ted Mayhall (R-Hernando), mentioned in the last report as a candidate for the newly created House of Representatives District 40 in 2003, John Wright, a retired Illinois Central Railroad official, is thought to be considering a run at the post. Local Democrats say there will be a Democratic candidate to file soon for the race as well.
HOUSE 64 - Jackson business lawyer and political activist Joe Nosef is said to be a candidate for the House District 64 seat. Nosef has been preparing for the race for over a year and currently has fund raising commitments in the $40,000 range with plans to raise between $60,000 - $80,000 before the March 1 qualifying deadline. Nosef appears to have a significant head start in grassroots organization for the upcoming campaign and August 2003 primary after serving as Congressman Chip Pickering's Hinds County Chairman. The seat is currently held by businessman Bill Denny (R) who has been in the House since 1988.
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Round Up
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The Mississippi NAACP held a protest in front of the Eastland Federal Courthouse yesterday morning, demanding Senator Trent Lott's resignation. A rally in support of Lott will be held today at the State Capitol at 2pm.
Former MSGOP Finance Chairman Dave Dennis (Pass Christian) has been elected chairman of the board of directors for the New Orleans branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta. Dennis, president and CEO of Specialty Contractors and Associates of Gulfport, had been discussed in Republican circles as a potential candidate for governor in 2003, but now is being encouraged to consider some other future campaign. His term on the board runs through December 2004, his term as chairman is one year.
The Washington Post reported on December 4 that Chris Henick, top deputy to senior Bush adviser Karl Rove, "has left the Bush Administration to 'take some time to explore possibilities,' he says, including working with Hollywood on post-9/11 efforts to boost America's image abroad. Or maybe a trip home to Mississippi, where pal and former Republican National Committee chairman Haley Barbour has all but declared for governor next year?"
U.S. Undersecretary of Agriculture for Marketing and Regulatory Programs, Bill Hawks (R-Hernando), told the DeSoto Times that he intends to keep his options open for 2003. Hawks was the Republican nominee against then Democrat Amy Tuck (R-Maben) for lieutenant governor in 1999. According to the Times, Hawks said that he wishes his former political foe well now that they are members of the same party. "Amy called me last week, and I wished her well. I told her that I'm keeping all my options open. As long as I feel like I am doing what is best for this country and this president I will continue to do that job," Hawks said. Tuck defeated Hawks by a margin of under 34,000 votes with a total of 372,108 votes to 338,160.
"A lot of people felt that he just didn't represent moderate ideas toward gun control. He was to the left, and that just didn't sell down South. I think that he's going to have to make that change or tone down his rhetoric about gun control if he plans on running again and trying to carry some states in the South." - Congressman Ronnie Shows (D-MS4) about Al Gore in 2000 - MSNBC: December 6, 2002
Jim Neal, a Nashville attorney who gained fame prosecuting Teamsters boss Jimmy Hoffa and Watergate figures, is representing Coast attorney Paul Minor in the federal investigation on the Coast involving judges and trial lawyer donations, according to the Sun Herald.
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Final Word
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"I want to say this about my state: When Strom Thurmond ran for president, we voted for him. We're proud of it. And if the rest of the country had followed our lead, we wouldn't have had all these problems over all these years, either." - Trent Lott: December 5, 2002 at Strom Thurmond's Birthday Party
"If the south would a won we would a had it made. I'd probably run for president of the southern states. The day Elvis passed away would be our national holiday. If the south would a won we would a had it made. I'd make my supreme court down in Texas and we wouldn't have no killers getting off free. If they were proven guilty then they would swing quickly, instead of writing' books and smiling' on T.V. We'd all learn Cajun cooking' in Louisiana and I'd put that capital back in Alabama. We'd put Florida on the right track, 'cause we'd take Miami back and throw all them pushers in the slammer." - Hank Williams Jr: "If the South Would a Won"
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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
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Josh Gregory, Editor |
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