street 1
1028 North Main Street
Campaign Phone
6015208500
Qualifications & Education
I served five years as a trustee on the Hattiesburg Public School Board including three years as president. I was elected and served ten years on the Forrest County Board of Supervisors. I also served 16 years as Mayor of Hattiesburg, MS. My education includes an AA Degree from JCJC, BS from USM MS from USM and PhD from JSU.
Fair Tax system
Our current tax system puts an unfair burden on working families, especially rural counties. While Mississippi is phasing out income tax that benefits the wealthy, fuel taxes are rising hitting communities the hardest. I support a Mississippi Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), elimination of grocery tax and policies that fully fund our schools and increasing the minimum wage.
Healthcare and Access
Too many Mississippi families are uninsured or underinsured. Healthcare is a human right, not a luxury.
37% of hospitals face immediate risk of closing, 52% face some risk of closing and 64% have experienced losses in services.
There are more rural hospitals in MS than any other state where patients can stay 24 hrs. before being transported to another hospital miles away.
I support Medicaid expansion, protection for rural hospitals, mental health services in our schools and communities. It is time to build a system that works for us all, not just the fortunate.
I can imagine a Mississippi we can all be proud to call home. The fact that Mississippi has long ranked near or at the bottom in national rankings for education, health outcomes, economic opportunity and infrastructure makes that hard to imagine. But, with bold, sustained and bipartisan efforts rooted in policy and community engagement Mississippi's future in bright.
Our plan should include:
Education: Build a Stronger Foundation
Healthcare: Create a Healthier Mississippi
Economy: Grow Jobs and Wealth
Criminal Justice Reform: Fairness and Opportunity
Civic Engagement and Governance
Celebrate Mississippi's rich cultural legacy
Long term Vision and Planning
We have the people, resources and resilience to lead the nation. This requires leadership that is visionary, inclusive and courageous. the state must choose HOPE over HISTORY, INVESTMENT over NEGLECT and JUSTICE over STATUS QUO.
One fact we have to realize is that every student is not going to attend college. So, there needs to be a strategy that includes all graduates, high school and college. Encouraging these students to stay in Mississippi will require a mix of policy changes, community engagement and economic opportunity. If we are really serious about keeping our young here and not moving to Houston, Dallas, Atlanta or other cities we have to be willing to offer a strategy that encourages our graduates to stay, work and thrive in Mississippi. Our strategy should include some or all of the elements:
1. Grants and tax breaks to businesses that hire young professionals
2. Offer student loan forgiveness
3. Affordable housing opportunities
4. Create youth civic councils
5. Promote Mississippi's
talent, culture, food and music story
Let's invest in the people who will shape what Mississippi becomes.
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