Magnolia Report for August 27, 2001 (#5)
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Spanish Exhibit Note - PSA
Only one week remains to visit the Majesty of Spain Exhibit in Jackson. With treasures of the Spanish Monarchy on display, some never before seen outside of Spain and others never before in a public forum, it is certainly worth the $15 for an adult ticket (seniors, students and children cost less). For more information, check out the links on the Magnolia Report or visit www.MajestyOfSpain.com which is the official web site of the event.
Democrat Party Updates
The Mississippi Democrat Party State Executive Committee elected Ricky Cole of Ovett as the new chairman. Cole, a farmer and director of the political grassroots organization Pine Belt Consulting, beat out trial lawyer lobbyist Stan Flint and Mississippi Freedom Democrat Roosevelt Yarbrough for the post. Yarbrough was the only black candidate. (The Magnolia Report stated incorrectly last issue that Cole was black.) Flint led the three-person field against Cole and Yarbrough in the first polling with 34 votes to 31 votes to 7 votes respectively. However, during the run-off, Yarbrough's votes went to Cole giving him a four-vote victory over Flint. Voting was not strictly along racial lines, though a majority of Cole's votes were black and Flint's voters were white. Many on the committee place 2nd District Congressman Bennie Thompson on Cole's team, creating a solid vote for the young chairman. Several committee members that had committed to Flint did not show up for the vote.
Since the election of a new chairman, former chairman Jon Levingston (Clarksdale) has resigned from the state executive committee. While he resigned his leadership position in June, he remained a member of the committee until last week. He joins Sam Sullivan (Canton) as the second Democrat to resign from the committee in recent weeks.
Republican Party Updates
Friday August 24, a number of major Republican contributors gathered at the state headquarters in downtown Jackson to dedicate the HQ building as the "Cochran-Lott Statesman Building." It was a reunion of sorts for individuals who met during Governor Kirk Fordice's first term to commit to finding a permanent structure for, and owned by, the Mississippi Republican Party. The Republican Party moved into the building in 1999 and recently completed a major renovation of the structure at 451 Yazoo Street: halfway between the Governor's Mansion and the Capitol Building.
Among those present were Senators Thad Cochran and Trent Lott, Congressman Roger Wicker, former Governor Kirk Fordice and wife Ann Fordice, as well as potential 2003 gubernatorial candidates Dave Dennis and Haley Barbour. Longtime Mississippi Republican leader Clarke Reed, who has taken the point on making this project succeed, coordinated the event.
Also present was new Republican chairman Jim Herring who has energized Republican grassroots leaders across the state in his bid to increase the number of Republican elected officials. At a reception held at the Majesty of Spain event in his honor, Herring told the 150 party loyalists on hand that conservative beliefs and values, held in common by most Mississippians, would lead the Republican Party to victories in the state. He told the crowd that under his leadership, the Mississippi Republican Party will be in one business: electing Republicans to office. Specifically, his objectives are to return Congressmen Roger Wicker and Chip Pickering to Washington in 2002, along with Senator Thad Cochran; elect a Republican governor in 2003; and to see in his lifetime the GOP take control of the Mississippi House of Representatives and Senate.
Hits to Magnolia Report Web Page August 1 to August 26: 18,275
Hits to Magnolia Report Web Page Since Launch (July 6): 29,517
Sid Salter on Paul Gallo
Sid Salter, syndicated columnist and Perspective Editor for The Clarion Ledger, appeared on the Gallo Radio show on Supertalk Mississippi August 14 and made a few political predictions. His top three names in the hat on each side for governor in 2003 were Democrats Ronnie Musgrove, Amy Tuck and Mike Moore; and Republicans Dave Dennis, Phil Bryant and Haley Barbour. He believes that Musgrove's divorce will not hurt him if he chooses to run for reelection, but his prominent role in backing a change in the state flag will play a negative impact on his electoral success. Salter also commented that regionalism may play a greater part in the upcoming election than in the past few.
Round-Up
Stuart Stevens (Ocean Springs), a Republican media consultant and strategists that began his career in Mississippi working on staff for Thad Cochran has released a new book titled "The Big Enchilada: Campaign Adventures with the Cockeyed Optimists from Texas Who Won the Biggest Prize in Politics." The book gives a view of the 2000 Presidential Election from inside the Bush Campaign. Of particular note are Stevens comments of political assistance by other Mississippians including Chris Henick of Yazoo City, now serving in the White House.
Over 400 lobbyists, staffers, activists and 25 of the 38 members of the Congressional Black Caucus attended a weekend fundraiser in Tunica at the Grand Casino and the Horseshoe Hotel Casino. They expect to raise more than the $400,000 in mostly soft money they raised last year. This event was held with no official outcry reported over the Mississippi Flag and no threat of boycott over the issue.
The Jackson Medical Mall was recently rededicated and renamed the Thad Cochran Center after the Senior Senator from Mississippi. Cochran supporters point to this as another indication of the broad-based support Thad has built over his nearly three decades in public service in both traditionally Republican demographics as well as Democrat demographics such as the black community.
The legislators who once called the Sun and Sand their home away from home are looking for a new place to stay in Jackson with the hotel's impending closure at the end of September. The two top contenders for the site are the Edison Walthall Hotel in downtown Jackson and the Best Value Inn and Suites (old Passport Inn) on I-55.
Paul Minor, son of columnist Bill Minor and prominent Coast trial lawyer, wrecked his car on August 22 and according to the deputy responding to the accident "had a strong smell of alcohol on his breath and had difficulty maintaining balance." Minor is teamed with attorney Dick Scruggs in a class-action lawsuit against HMOs and was a lead attorney in the tobacco lawsuits. He is a major contributor to Democrat candidates and causes.
A special session for Redistricting is now said likely to occur in October.
Lieutenant Governor Amy Tuck has raised $24,000 to benefit the American Family Association project of supplying all public school classrooms in the state with a poster saying "In God We Trust." A new state law requires the display and the ACLU is considering a lawsuit against it.
While KKK members from Alabama marched in Brandon last week, Jackson City Councilman Kenneth Stokes (who is black) held his own march in Jackson by the Medgar Evers / Martin Luther King, Jr. memorial. Stokes burned a Mississippi Flag with lighter fluid and chanted "burn baby burn" to the delight of onlookers who carried anti-Klan signs and sang "We Shall Overcome."
E-Bytes
Minor in Bed with Ross Barnett?
"At about 1 a.m., Minor heard a knock on his door. There stood not only Barnett but also his son, Ross Jr., and a sound truck driver. 'We had to choose up who would sleep with whom. I chose Ole Ross,' Minor said. Minor snuck a peek as Barnett, preparing for bed, stripped down to his white union suit. 'Good God,' Minor thought at the time, 'his skin is whiter than his underwear. This man could die here tonight. I had no idea that this man would one day be my governor.' The next morning, Minor checked out and paid for the room while Barnett and his crew slept. 'He never thanked me for it, either,' Minor joked." -Tim Kalich, Greenwood Commonwealth, 8/14/2001 Fordice Talking Politics
"'I would very much like to see [Barbour run for Governor], and (state Republican Party Chairman) Jim Herring and I have been working together for that cause,' he said. 'I'm very much for it, and I think it would be a slam dunk, and we could sure use a slam dunk. And he would do a wonderful job. He's essentially sold (his) company, and he's in a position where he can do that. I don't know anybody who's better politically connected in the United States than Haley Barbour, and that would be a giant benefit to the state,' he said." -Dan Way, Clarksdale Press Register, 8/15/2001 Mississippi, Famous For Tort
"A quirk in the state law allows plaintiffs to combine their cases with others around the country. Add to this the pro-plaintiff reputation of the local circuit court judge, Lamar Pickard, and the result is that more than 21,000 plaintiffs have sued in Jefferson since 1995 in a county of less than 10,000 people." -The London Financial Times, 8/17/2001
"At about 1 a.m., Minor heard a knock on his door. There stood not only Barnett but also his son, Ross Jr., and a sound truck driver. 'We had to choose up who would sleep with whom. I chose Ole Ross,' Minor said. Minor snuck a peek as Barnett, preparing for bed, stripped down to his white union suit. 'Good God,' Minor thought at the time, 'his skin is whiter than his underwear. This man could die here tonight. I had no idea that this man would one day be my governor.' The next morning, Minor checked out and paid for the room while Barnett and his crew slept. 'He never thanked me for it, either,' Minor joked." -Tim Kalich, Greenwood Commonwealth, 8/14/2001 Fordice Talking Politics
"'I would very much like to see [Barbour run for Governor], and (state Republican Party Chairman) Jim Herring and I have been working together for that cause,' he said. 'I'm very much for it, and I think it would be a slam dunk, and we could sure use a slam dunk. And he would do a wonderful job. He's essentially sold (his) company, and he's in a position where he can do that. I don't know anybody who's better politically connected in the United States than Haley Barbour, and that would be a giant benefit to the state,' he said." -Dan Way, Clarksdale Press Register, 8/15/2001 Mississippi, Famous For Tort
"A quirk in the state law allows plaintiffs to combine their cases with others around the country. Add to this the pro-plaintiff reputation of the local circuit court judge, Lamar Pickard, and the result is that more than 21,000 plaintiffs have sued in Jefferson since 1995 in a county of less than 10,000 people." -The London Financial Times, 8/17/2001
On The Web
Matt Friedeman, conservative syndicated columnist, pastor, seminary teacher and host of a talk radio program on American Family Radio in Mississippi, has launched www.InTheFight.com - a web-site focused on Mississippi social issues and politics.
A "Draft Musgrove for Senate" web-site has been launched "to encourage a serious Democratic challenger to challenge Senator Thad Cochran for reelection." Find it at www.geocities.com/draftronmusgove or see the link in the Magnolia Report's "Candidate Pages."
On August 20, the official date of the Musgrove Divorce, the Governor's State Operated Web Page dropped the First Lady section from the site and deleted mention of her in his official biography. Go to www.govoff.state.ms.us to visit the governor's web site.
Movers and Shakers
Curt Hebert (R) of Pascagoula, former Southern District Public Service Commissioner, who steps down as chairman of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, will join Entergy Corporation as executive vice president.
Senator John Horhn (D-26) of Jackson has been named chairman of the Science and Technology Committee of the National Black Caucus of State Legislators.
Former Tupelo Public Schools superintendent Mike Vinson will become executive director of the Mississippi Association of School Administrators.
Eric Holmes (D), Mayor of Shelby in Bolivar County, was elected president of the Mississippi Conference of Black Mayors in Yazoo City on August 11.
Magnolia Report Poll
The Magnolia Report front page hosts a poll to run for two weeks between issues. The past poll asked, "Which statewide elected official do you personally respect the most?" A total of 345 people participated with the following results.
Gov Ronnie Musgrove (77) 22%
Lt Gov Amy Tuck (17) 4%
Sec of State Eric Clark (36) 10%
AG Mike Moore (22) 6%
Auditor Phil Bryant (116) 33%
Treasurer Marshall Bennett (25) 7%
Insurance Commissioner George Dale (31) 8%
Ag Com Lester Spell (21) 6%
"P.C." from Jackson wrote in regarding the poll, "Phil Bryant is the state-wide elected official whom I respect the most. But then I also prefer Nelson Riddle to Lawrence Welk for elevator and nursing home music. :)" The current poll up asks "What issue should be most important in congressional redistricting?" Vote today.
Lt Gov Amy Tuck (17) 4%
Sec of State Eric Clark (36) 10%
AG Mike Moore (22) 6%
Auditor Phil Bryant (116) 33%
Treasurer Marshall Bennett (25) 7%
Insurance Commissioner George Dale (31) 8%
Ag Com Lester Spell (21) 6%
"P.C." from Jackson wrote in regarding the poll, "Phil Bryant is the state-wide elected official whom I respect the most. But then I also prefer Nelson Riddle to Lawrence Welk for elevator and nursing home music. :)" The current poll up asks "What issue should be most important in congressional redistricting?" Vote today.
Rumor Mill and Whispers
Thinking Ahead: Contributing to the thought that Amy Tuck will run for reelection comes rumors that the legislature may remove the term-limit provision from the office of Lieutenant Governor. While Tuck is free to run for reelection in 2003, she faces the possibility that someone other than Musgrove could be the next governor meaning should could face an incumbent at the close of her second term, assuming she decides to run for governor. Ending the term limit on her office would remove this possible roadblock in her political future allowing her to serve a third term as lieutenant governor so to seek the Mansion during an open year, 2011.
Richard "Flip" Phillips (Batesville) is high on the list of potential nominees for the Mississippi Supreme Court vacancy expected when current justice Mike Mills moves to the federal bench. Phillips is a former President of the Mississippi Trial Lawyers Association. He lists several high profile cases against insurance companies, electric utilities, MDOT, manufacturers and casinos on www.smithphillips.com his law firm's website. Governor Musgrove will make the appointment to replace Mills.
Activists and supporters who backed Stan Flint for chairman of the Mississippi Democrat Party have discussed backing out of direct party assistance and instead forming their own political action committee to accomplish their agenda. Presumably, such a PAC would function much as the New South Democrats PAC functioned during the 1999 election cycle.
Race for 2003
Much has been made about a possible run by Yazoo City native Republican Haley Barbour for Governor. Sources say Barbour will firm up a decision on whether or not to run this Fall.
Wayne Burkes continues to make the rounds in Mississippi and in Washington DC in what some suggest is consideration for a run statewide. Indications are his intention would be to run for lieutenant governor and not governor, but both options remain open. With a distinguished Mississippi political career and extensive Washington contacts, Burkes could be effective raising money and earning votes.
Rumors continue to float about a run by Attorney General Mike Moore for governor, or possibly a retirement into the legal practice - with either leaving the attorney general's post open. But after the appearances in 1999, we can only be sure about Moore on qualifying deadline.
Upcoming
[Note, to get your political event listed in Upcoming, email it to the Magnolia Report.]
August 28 - Tishomingo County Republican Executive Committee Meeting
September 1 - Qualifying Deadline for Oxford Alderman Ward 5
September 7 - Qualifying Deadline for Lee County and Winston County Special Elections
September 8 - MSGOP: Habitat Project
September 10 - Next Issue of Magnolia Report Uploaded
September 1 - Qualifying Deadline for Oxford Alderman Ward 5
September 7 - Qualifying Deadline for Lee County and Winston County Special Elections
September 8 - MSGOP: Habitat Project
September 10 - Next Issue of Magnolia Report Uploaded
Final Word
"But let me tell you: Amy Tuck is just as strong as four acres of garlic. Yeah, I think she'll run against [Musgrove], and I think she'll beat him in the Democratic primary." -Kirk Fordice, Clarksdale Press Register, 8/15/2001
"If I had to tell you today, I would be a candidate for lieutenant governor." -Amy Tuck, AP, 8/21/2001
© Magnolia Political Report 2001 • PO Box 24233 Jackson, Mississippi 39225
FAX 601.355.7885 • scoop@magnoliareport.com
Brian Perry, Editor
FAX 601.355.7885 • scoop@magnoliareport.com
Brian Perry, Editor