Thursday, October 11, 2007
By CHERIE WARD
Mississippi Press
BILOXI -- Four candidates vying for two state seats in the November general election stated their views about the Gulf Coast in a political forum Wednesday.
Coast Young Professionals held the debate to better acquaint the public about the races for lieutenant governor and Southern District Transportation Commissioner, said Clay Williams, co-chairman for the policy and government committee. Coast Young Professionals' members consist of residents in Jackson, Harrison and Hancock counties.
Lt. governor candidates, State Auditor Phil Bryant and Rep. Jamie Franks, faced off in an eight-question forum.
Harrison County Board of Supervisor Larry Benefield and incumbent Southern District Transportation Commissioner Wayne Brown also participated.
Bryant, a Republican, opened with telling the crowd of about 100 people that Mississippi is on the move and praised Gov. Haley Barbour for his Hurricane Katrina recovery programs. The state auditor paced the stage of the Saenger Theatre addressing several Republicans in attendance, including Sen. Tommy Gollott, R-Biloxi, and Michael Watson, Republican candidate for Senate District 51. Watson's opponent, former legislator Democrat Ray Vecchio was also in attendance.
Bryant said insurance is topping his agenda and is creating a proposal with Sen. Trent Lott that will provide tax exemptions for disaster-stricken areas throughout the country.
Franks, a Democrat, said the current Mississippi governmental administration has given Barbour a rubber stamp of approval and wrote him a blank check to do whatever he pleases in Mississippi.
"I see government the way Franklin D. Roosevelt did in 1932," Franks said. "When he said to a starving United States of America the measure of our progress is not if we provide more to those who have an abundance, it's whether we provide more to those who have little. For me that's what it's all about. Fighting for the common Mississippian. They deserve a voice in Jackson and I want to be that voice."
Asked what each candidate will do to make sure the Gulf Coast is fairly represented, Bryant said both Republicans and Democrats will provide unique talents in chairmanships and said he will put the "best players on the field to be sure south Mississippi is not left out."
Franks said South Mississippi is also important to him.
"I want to be sure everybody has a seat at the table." Franks said. "Whether you're from north Mississippi or central Mississippi, we have got to make sure Democrats, Republicans, blacks, whites, males and females all have chairmanships."
During the closing remarks, Bryant said after listening to Franks say many times what he would do as lieutenant governor to regulate Barbour, he must have given up hope John Eaves, the Democratic candidate for governor, is going to win.
"All we've heard is how he'll respond to Haley," Bryant said.
Franks said, if elected, there will be a balance of power regardless of who wins the governor's seat.
Brown said the commissioner position takes a personable person with qualified leadership.
"This is a tough job," Brown said. "I have a niece who lives in Jackson County, just off of Highway 57. We're building a road that's going through their house. I've made the tough decisions. It's not easy sometimes."
Benefield said his Democratic opponent has criticized him for being a politician and not an engineer.
"There are many challenges at MDOT," Benefield said. "People say over and over that they are a government of their own that lacks accountability."
Benefield said he's tired of the Mississippi Department of Transportation telling residents what's going to happen and wants to involve citizens with public hearings meant to gather community input about transportation projects.
"If elected," Benefield said. "I will be a different commissioner for you. I'll go and sit down with the legislators and make them part of the solution and not part of the problem. You want someone to go to Jackson and represent you and what you want."
Reporter Cherie Ward can be reached at cward@themississippipress.com or (228) 934-1442.
