Formerly the Nick Walters Political Report
Magnolia Report for September 10, 2001
Magnolia Report #6
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Democrat Party Updates
New Chairman Ricky Cole has moved to take the agenda setting of his party away from his opponents through letters-to-the-editor across the state, invoking a passionate response from Republicans.
Twelve Mississippians were inducted into the Democrat Party Hall of Fame, among them: Mary Ruddiman (Ocean Springs), Senator Deborah J. Dawkins (Pass Christian) and Frances Fredricks (Gulfport).
Republican Party Updates
On Saturday morning, September 8 the GOP continued their Habitat for Humanity project in Jackson. Congressman Chip Pickering and staff came out to do their part; State Auditor Phil Bryant also dropped by to put some sweat equity into the Habitat House. College Republicans from Belhaven College and Mississippi College both turned out to assist as well.
Later that evening at a packed reception in Tupelo, Jim Herring held a "Meet the Chairman" event to introduce himself to local party activists. The event was held at TVA Chairman Glen McCullough's parents' house. Another "Meet the Chairman" event will be held on the Coast later this month at the house of Dave Dennis.
Meanwhile, back at party headquarters in Jackson, the Mississippi Hispanic Alliance met with about 75 attendees present. Rosemary Barbour, wife of Hinds County Supervisor Charles Barbour, is the chairman of this Hispanic outreach project.
Pearl River County Chancery Clerk David Earl Johnson switched his party affiliation from Democrat to Republican, joining Sheriff Joe Stuart and district attorney Buddy McDonald who switched back in July.
Hits to Magnolia Report Web Page August 27 to September 9: 10,586
Hits to Magnolia Report Web Page Since Launch (July 6): 40,461
Redistricting Rumors
Democrat operatives have expressed to Speaker of the House Tim Ford their dismay at the Stennis Institute for releasing a redistricting plan that according to their analysis would benefit Republican Chip Pickering. They believe the Institute, which is a division of Mississippi State University, should not get involved in this political issue. Their concern is that Democrat Congressmen in jeopardy (Ronnie Shows and Gene Taylor) both be protected by whatever redistricting means possible. In response to concerns some district designs may be ridiculed by the media as improper gerrymandering, they told Ford "to hell with the media." Taylor's future directly relates to Shows, as placing and keeping Lauderdale, part of Jones, and Forrest Counties into his district could give Pickering a legitimate shot at unseating the Coast Democrat.
The timetable for the legislature to act on redistricting appears to be early October. Word has it Representative Tommy Reynolds has set an October 1 deadline for maps and proposals and will meet on October 5 to discuss and potentially make a decision concerning redistricting. Soon afterwards, Governor Ronnie Musgrove would call a special session to formally enact the legislation.
But redistricting may become more complicated than some had expected. While Democrats control both houses of the legislature, there is word that the Senate may not share the House's agenda.
Quick Notes
Tamara Mitchell-Ford, wife of Tennessee state senator John Ford (D-Memphis), sister-in-law of former Congressman Harold Ford (D-TN), and aunt to current Congressman Harold Ford Jr. (D-TN), failed to appear in a New Albany court to face charges related to her drunken driving arrest. Judge Steve Livingston issued an "order to show cause" which could result in a charge of contempt and a warrant for her arrest if she does not return to Mississippi and give an explanation.
The state managed web site of Governor Ronnie Musgrove has been redesigned. Go to http://www.govoff.state.ms.us and check it out.
Counties with special elections scheduled for November 6 include Bolivar, Coahoma, Hinds, Jeff Davis, Jones, Lee, Madison, Pearl River, Rankin, Simpson, Stone and Winston.
The Madison County special election for Chancery Clerk brings a political activist well known in conservative circles to the ballot. Mike Crook, former state director for the Christian Coalition, current state director of the American Family Association, and long time grassroots activist should make that special election an interesting political event to watch.
The Mississippi Leadership Forum will meet on Friday, September 21 from 11:30am to 1:00pm in the Madison Room at the County Line Road Hilton Hotel in Jackson. Andrew LeFevre, Education Task Force Director for the American Legislative Exchange Council will be the speaker.
The Chronicle of Higher Education reported on August 10 the top thirty schools nationwide receiving government "pork." Mississippi had three schools in this list with Ole Miss #7, MSU #12 and USM #25: a tribute to, or indictment of, Mississippi's congressional delegation.
Democrat operative Jere Nash continues to testify against former labor boss Ron Carey in New York in a trial on the campaign fundraising scandal involving the Teamsters' election.
Shameless Self Promotion
Magnolia Report Editor Brian Perry appeared on the Mississippi Connection with Matt Friedeman last Friday on American Family Radio to discuss politics and the Magnolia Report. The AFR feed is a statewide network and the show was from 5pm-6pm.
E-Bytes
"I'm going to guard that tobacco trust money like a hawk." - Attorney General Mike Moore in the AP: September 6, 2001
"First of all, this Vietnamese fish is not catfish. Even more of concern is the fact that production standards used in that country are far below the stringent standards used by Mississippi and other American catfish producers." - David Waide, President of the Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation in the Tunica Times: September 6, 2001
Robert Johnson "huddled with aides before facing local reporters. 'How do we get them to aid understand we'd be paying for something we don't have?' he recalls asking his staff. His communications director, Jennifer Griffin, suggested asking a friendly lawmaker to address reporters, using a phrase that had just popped into her head: 'ghost inmates.'"…."'We don't guarantee them a profit, but I think we're obligated to get them enough prisoners to where they have a chance,' Senator [Bunky] Huggins now says. Both he and Senator Gordon say they never intended to allocate money for empty beds." - Wall Street Journal: September 6, 2001
Movers, Shakers and Appointments
District Attorney Dunn Lampton (McComb) has been officially named by President George W. Bush to be US Attorney for the Mississippi Southern District. The US Senate must confirm his appointment.
President Bush has nominated Marion Blakey to be a member and chairman of the National Safety Board.
Formerly a lobbyist for the Mississippi Association of Educators, Nan Tarlton (Belzoni) has joined the staff of Lieutenant Governor Amy Tuck as Communications Director.
Governor Musgrove has appointed Edna Boone (Ocean Springs) to the Commission on Marine Resources. Boone is retired from the Mississippi Gulf Community College and sister of Ole Miss Chancellor Robert Khayat.
James P. Brantley (Madison) has been appointed by Governor Musgrove to replace Mary Libby Payne on the Mississippi Court of Appeals. Brantley is the former general counsel for the State Department of Mental Health. His seat is up for election in November 2002.
Aids Marshal Lusk and Larry Denmin have left the staff of Congressman Ronnie Shows.
Former State Representative Ken Stribling (Jackson) will be going on staff at the USDA Office of Rural Development as public relations director.
Stan Flint who recently lost the election to be the Mississippi Democrat Chairman will no longer serve as lobbyist for the Mississippi Trial Lawyer Association.
Solomon C. Osborne (Greenwood) has been appointed by Governor Musgrove to serve as Leflore County Judge.
Magnolia Report Poll
Every two weeks, the Magnolia Report front page hosts a new poll. The past poll asked, "What issue should be most important in congressional redistricting?" A total of 141 people participated with the following results.
Partisan Demographics (28) 19%
Race (10) 7%
Region (88) 62%
University/Military Base Location (8) 5%
Other (7) 4%
In the "other" comments, users suggested "population" and "like interests." Thanks for voting and writing.
The current poll up asks "Who would you like to be the Republican nominee for Governor in 2003?" Vote today.
Race for 2003
A Magnolia Report fan recently delivered an item passed out at Horace Fleming's departure reception held in his office at USM. Fleming, it appears, did not provide this item, rather a supporter who attended the party. It is a simple black bumper sticker with gold letters reading "Horace Fleming for Governor."
A column by Buddy Bynum places yet another Republican as a possible candidate for the GOP nomination for governor in 2003. Bynum suggests that Meridian Mayor John Robert Smith may look to make East Mississippi a base for a statewide campaign.
Rumor Mill and Whispers
More on Horace Fleming: talk among state Baptist leaders place him on the short list to replace Howell Todd as President of Mississippi College.
On August 30, Tyler Lott Armstrong gave birth to a baby girl - a granddaughter to Senator Trent Lott. When the doctor came out to the waiting room he said, "Congratulations Senator, it's a Democrat." No word on whether the Senator was amused.
Upcoming
[Note, to get your political event listed in Upcoming, email it to the Magnolia Report.]
September 11
Special Oxford Alderman Election
Capital City Young Republicans Social
September 12
Ole Miss College Republicans host Dave Dennis
September 15
MSGOP - Habitat Project
September 21
Mississippi Leadership Forum Meeting in Jackson
Coast "Meet The Chairman" Republican Function
September 22
MSGOP - Habitat Project
September 24
Next Magnolia Report Uploaded
Final Word
"Gerald Blessey and Britt Singletary, attorneys for Imperial Palace, said early Thursday in a meeting with The Sun Herald editorial board that Eric Clark has become a 'demagogue' leading a 'rogue agency' that far oversteps its legal authority….Singletary said that Clark in 1997 launched a public relations campaign against Imperial Palace using Baptist radio and print media, and he expects a similar 'Eric Clark Show' campaign before December's trial….In 1997, 'he brought the crazy Christians in from Tupelo and said, 'That godless casino doesn't want to pay like everybody else,'' Singletary told The Sun Herald editorial board. 'They jumped all over me like a duck on a June bug.'….'We don't need Eric Clark putting on a Superman costume and protecting us from ourselves,' said Blessey, a former Biloxi mayor." - Sun Herald 8/24/2001
"I have less than no comment on that." - James L. Robertson, Secretary of State attorney, Sun Herald 8/24/2001
© Magnolia Political Report 2001 • PO Box 24233 Jackson, Mississippi 39225
FAX 601.355.7885 • scoop@magnoliareport.com
Brian Perry, Editor