Mississippi's beautiful Capitol building

Rep. Steve Horne (R-Meridian) is the new vice chairman of the Apportionment and Elections Committee, and also will serve on the critically important legislative and congressional redistricting committees. In addition, Speaker Gunn assigned the three term Meridian lawmaker to the Ways and Means committee, charged with taxation and bonding, and one of the two key “money” committees in the House. Rep. Horne also copped several other plum committee assignments, including PEER, Local and Private, Constitution, and County Affairs.

Speaker Gunn tapped Rep. Scott Bounds (R-Philadelphia) to chair the Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks Committee, an assignment of great importance to Mississippi sportsmen. Rep. Bounds also was assigned to the Appropriations Committee, giving East Mississippi solid representation on the other key “money” committee. The three term Neshoba legislator also will serve on the Judiciary A, Conservation and Water Resources, and Public Property committees.

Freshmen lawmakers historically have not received much in the way of influential committee assignments. That has not held true this time, however, as Speaker Gunn has entrusted East Mississippi freshmen legislators with significant responsibilities as they commence their legislative service.

Although his is a new face at the Capitol, Rep. William Shirley (R-Quitman) was appointed as a committee vice chairman (Enrolled Bills), a special honor for any freshman. Significantly, Rep. Shirley will serve on quite a few vitally important committees, including Agriculture, Energy, Medicaid, Public Utilities, Workforce Development, and Youth and Family Affairs. Trust me; that is quite an impressive list of responsibilities for any first-termer.

Meridian’s freshman Representative, Charles Young, Jr. (D-Meridian) was included in the mix of important assignments as well. Speaker Gunn appointed Rep. Young to serve on the coveted Universities and Colleges Committee, an especially meaningful appointment given that Chuck’s father, the beloved Charles Young, Sr., chaired that very committee for many years. In addition, Rep. Young joins Rep. Horne on Local and Private, giving Lauderdale County a rare “two-fer” on that committee of great interest. Two other committees of significance to East Mississippians — Corrections, and Forestry — will provide Rep. Young with important places of service for the next four years.

Another fresh but highly capable member, Rep. Randy Rushing (R-Decatur), also fared very well as the Speaker’s committee appointments were revealed Friday. Although new to the Legislature, Rep. Rushing is an important component of the East Mississippi legislative delegation, and will serve on the following significant House committees over the next four years: Agriculture, Constitution, County Affairs, Military Affairs, Municipalities, as well as the crucially important Public Health and Human Services committee.

As for myself, I am greatly honored to have been elected by my colleagues to serve as Speaker Pro Tempore, which is the second highest-ranking officer of the House of Representatives. My duties as Speaker Pro Tempore include chairing the House Management Committee, which oversees all the internal business, personnel and financial affairs of the body. In addition, I serve on the Joint Legislative Budget Committee, which develops the state budget, and on the powerful Rules Committee, which schedules and controls the flow of all legislation. I certainly have a full plate, as do all of our local House members.

This is an exciting time to serve at the Capitol. We have many new members of the Legislature, as well as new leaders throughout state government. As always, however, the priority for each and every legislator is to represent well our constituents back home. For myself, I am pleased most of all that my new positions of responsibility will enhance my ability to serve the citizens of Clarke and Lauderdale counties in the manner they rightly expect and deserve. That is, after all, why they sent me to Jackson in the first place, and may I never forget that.

Here are the final, official district-wide vote totals:

SNOWDEN (Republican) 2,969 (52.05%)
HOUSTON (Democrat) 2,379 (41.70%)
THOMPSON (Independent) 356 ( 6.24%)
         Total 5,704 (100.0%)

Legislative Republicans netted a pick-up of 10 House seats, including one post-election party-switcher, giving the GOP a new majority of 64 to 58 in the Mississippi House of Representatives, and Republican state senators expanded their own majority to 31-21.  Republican Governor-elect Phil Bryant also trounced his Democrat opponent with 60%-plus of the vote (over 65% in both Lauderdale and Clarke counties), and 7 of the 8 state-wide offices continue to be held by the GOP. You may review the 2011 General Election results for any race in the state at the Mississippi Secretary of State’s elections web site.

What do the 2011 elections mean for East Mississippi?  It’s all a positive development, according to this editorial in the Sunday, November 20 edition of The Meridian Star. One thing is for sure: January will mark the beginning of a new era in Mississippi politics.

Although Philip Gunn is well-known and (obviously) greatly respected by his colleagues, he is a new face to many people around the state. Who is Philip Gunn? Columnist Sid Salter tells you a lot here about the quality of the man who will be our next Speaker. I hope you enjoy the read.

Here are the final, unofficial returns (exclusive of absentee and affidavit ballots):

SNOWDEN (R) 2,666 (52%)

HOUSTON (D) 2,181 (42%)

THOMPSON (I) 330 (6%)

I humbly extend my sincere gratitude to the voters of District 83, and am excited to be permitted to continue in this important place of service to the people of East Mississippi. Thank you so much for your continued confidence and support!

WMOX Morning Show hosts, Bill Smith and "Dumpster Dawg"

The last political forum of this election cycle took place Monday morning on WMOX Radio in Meridian.  “Morning Show” hosts Bill Smith and “Dumpster Dawg” fired questions to myself and to my Independent challenger.  Disappointingly, but not surprisingly, the Democrat nominee once again was a “no show” even though he had been invited to participate.  Listen here to the archive of yesterday morning’s lively discussion of the issues between myself and the Independent candidate.

VOTE TOMORROW.  Turnout absolutely is the key to victory.  We will win re-election in House District 83 if we turn out our vote, but we can lose if we do not.  Four years ago, a single House seat on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, previously held by a Republican, fell to a Democrat by a total of only 11 votes cast.  As a direct consequence, two months later when the new Legislature convened, a conservative candidate ultimately lost his race for Speaker of the House by a single vote, thereby condemning the State of Mississippi to a liberal-led House of Representatives for another four years.  YOUR vote matters; don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.

PLEASE VOTE TO RE-ELECT GREG SNOWDEN TODAY.

Thank you.

Democrat Representative and Black Caucus Chairman Omeria Scott, of Laurel

Rep. Omeria Scott (D–Laurel), chairwoman of the Mississippi Legislative Black Caucus, organized and promoted a meeting Thursday night at the Lauderdale County Court House, ostensibly to inform public employees and retirees about the “threat” to the retirement system (PERS).  Most attendees probably assumed this was an “official” briefing of some sort, and not the partisan political showcase it actually was.  In a widely disseminated email promoting the meeting, Rep. Scott said “the political leadership continues even today to threaten the retirement benefit package for the current retirees as well as every new public employee who came on board to work in county, city and state government.”

Allow me to speak plainly.  Contrary to the orchestrated Democrat hysteria, PERS is not under attack.  There is no serious proposal to “privatize” the retirement system.  No retiree or currently vested state employee need worry about losing their “13^th check” or any other retirement benefits which they have earned.  Republican members of the Legislature have pledged to honor contractual commitments to our valued state employees and retirees.  And, frankly, anyone who says that they know of any official plan or secret scheme afoot to do otherwise is, at best, sadly misinformed and, at worst, deliberately lying.  The PERS “non-issue” quite simply is a trumped-up Democrat scare tactic born of pure partisan politics.  That is the bottom line.

Rep. Scott and the Black Caucus have been prominent in Lauderdale and Clarke counties this campaign season.  On at least three very public occasions during the past few weeks, Rep. Scott has campaigned for and aggressively endorsed my Democratic opponent.  Listen here and here to what Rep. Scott said about me at an infamous appearance at the 5^th Street Baptist Church in Meridian on September 25 (transcript below):

“When Greg Snowden and ‘em say it’s not right for rich folks to pay their fair share; when they say ‘no’ to the blind, ‘no’ to the deaf, ‘no’ to the disabled, ‘no’ to everything that we know is right, what do we say?”

. . . .

“It’s time for you to stand up and to say ‘no’ to these radicals who are trying to take over the great State of Mississippi . . . .  So we must stand up and have a “Voting Riot.”

Scott’s inflammatory rhetoric backfired, as well it should have.  District 83 voters know how contemptibly ridiculous it is to suggest that I have ever said “no” to our blind, deaf, or disabled citizens.  Since that outrageous tactic didn’t work, Democrats now have decided to lie about PERS.  They are desperate to hang onto the Speaker’s gavel, and to all the power that entails, and evidently are willing to do anything and everything, no matter how despicable, in order to defeat we “radical” Republicans.

The PERS mud-sling won’t work either.  District 83′s public employees and retirees know me, and they know that when I look them in the eye and promise I will protect their retirement benefits, I am telling them the truth.

That, too, is the bottom line.

WTOK-TV "On the Record," October 9, 2011

Only one time during this campaign season, on Sunday afternoon, October 9, did all three candidates for the District 83 House seat sit down together for a free and healthy discussion of the issues. John Johnson of WTOK-TV hosted the Democratic and Independent challengers along with the Republican incumbent (me) during a brief, thirty-minute session of “On the Record.” Since that date there have been no further joint appearances despite the active efforts of several media outlets to arrange a debate for the benefit of District 83 voters.

Meridian Community College, under the auspices of the Lauderdale County Human Relations Commission, sponsored a televised candidate forum on Thursday evening, October 27. This forum was announced many weeks in advance, and was on my calendar for well over a month. Simply put, it is one of the things all serious candidates for office in Lauderdale County are expected by the public to do, and rightly so. But the Democratic nominee chose not to attend, sending instead a written statement to the effect that he was too busy to come. The Independent candidate and myself engaged in a short but vigorous discussion of the issues; unfortunately, District 83 voters were cheated of seeing and hearing anything at all from the Democrat who says he wants to represent them in Jackson.

With Jana Cooper, WQMS Radio, Quitman, Mississippi, October 28, 2011

WQMS Radio in Quitman, Mississippi attempted to arrange a joint appearance with the two major party candidates on Friday afternoon, October 28. The Democrat candidate once again bailed out, claiming in an email that his campaign “must schedule events, meetings and campaign work in advance and . . . we are unable to adjust our schedule to accommodate . . . .”  I appeared alone, and although I had a great time answering questions by myself, I promised to return at any time the station management might persuade my opponent to sit down to discuss the issues in front of District 83 voters.

What now? Both WALT (910 AM Talk Radio) and WMOX (1010 AM Talk Radio) are attempting to schedule a debate between all three District 83 candidates prior to the November 8 election. Voters certainly expect and deserve as much.  I have communicated to the management of both stations that I will make myself available at any time, 24/7, live or recorded, to sit down with my opponents to discuss any issues in this campaign. I have made the same promise to Meridian Star editor Fredie Carmichael, who in addition to his print media responsibilities, also hosts “Sunday Mornings with the Editor” on WMOX.

I have always considered it my obligation, as your elected State Representative, to make myself regularly available to the media and freely accessible to constituents in order to provide information and to answer questions.  I am proud of my record of service, and would enjoy the opportunity for a full and fair discussion of the many issues of interest in this campaign. Frankly, I believe all three candidates owe that much to the voters of District 83.

So far, however, it appears that my Democratic opponent has a very different idea. Rather than to seek out opportunities to discuss the issues important in this campaign, the Democrat nominee repeatedly has refused to sit down with me in front of District 83 voters, and he has ducked several opportunities to answer tough questions about what he actually would do for the people if he were elected. Unless the Democratic nominee changes his mind and agrees to appear alongside the other candidates, voters will continue to be kept in the dark about whether he truly is up to the job of representing them. Instead of running for the office, he is running from the voters, and that is a real shame.

“Running scared?” Indeed.

"Operation Voter Treat" in District 83

Three good friends and colleagues from the Legislature joined me in Meridian on Saturday for some good ole fashioned door-to-door campaigning to push voter turnout.  Rep. Mark Baker (R–Brandon), Rep. Gary Chism (R–Columbus), and former District 84 Rep. Eric Robinson (R–Quitman) canvassed precincts and urged residents to turn out at the ballot box for Greg Snowden on Tuesday, November 8.

To counter the shamelessly deceptive scare tactics employed this pre-Halloween season by Democrats all around the state, my House colleagues and I tongue-in-cheek waged our own “Operation Voter Treat,” dispensing candy reminders of the importance of supporting Greg Snowden a week from Tuesday.  “Operation Voter Treat” continued Saturday evening in Enterprise, as hundreds of Clarke countians who turned out downtown for the annual Fall Festival were treated with a little something extra for their sweet tooths, courtesy of the Greg Snowden Campaign.

“This election is all about change; we are in a fight to secure much-needed conservative leadership for the House of Representatives after more than a century of Democratic domination,” said Baker.  “Greg Snowden is one of our most effective Republican leaders, and no doubt will be given major responsibilities in the new House leadership.  It is absolutely vital that District 83 voters send Greg back to Jackson.  The political direction of the entire state may well depend upon the outcome of a single seat, as was the case four years ago.”

Left to Right: Rep. Gary Chism (R-Columbus); former Rep. Eric Robinson (R-Quitman); Rep. Mark Baker (R-Brandon); and Rep. Greg Snowden (R-Meridian)

Chism agreed.  “Greg and I came to the Legislature at the same time, in January 2000, and we have been great friends ever since.  Greg Snowden is a principled conservative who always fights hard for the people of Clarke and Lauderdale counties.  Greg is a tremendous asset to East Mississippi.  One House seat on the Gulf Coast was decided by only 11 votes four years ago, so folks must understand how critical it is that they go to the polls and vote for Greg.”

“Seniority means so much in the Legislature,” said former Rep. Robinson, “and Greg now has twelve years’ worth of it.  Mark my words; when conservatives take over the House, which I believe they will this November, Greg Snowden will become chairman of a major committee, and will assume a position of enormous influence.  Greg will be positioned better than anyone to positively promote the interests of Clarke and Lauderdale counties.”

“Operation Voter Treat” continues through Halloween night in selected parts of District 83.  Don’t be surprised if your “trick or treat” bag contains a “voter treat” reminder to go to the polls and VOTE FOR GREG SNOWDEN ON NOVEMBER 8.

The National Federation of Independent Business is the nation’s and state’s leading small business association, with offices in Washington, D.C. and all 50 state capitals, and with 3,500 members in Mississippi.  Meridian businesswoman Margaret Remy announced the official NFIB endorsement, which reads: “Greg Snowden understands the challenges facing Mississippi’s small, family businesses in their fight to survive and grow, and is the clear choice in House District 83 to sustain these job creators and community givers. We believe Greg Snowden will continue to take a fiscally responsible approach to managing state government, oppose excessive mandates, taxes and spending, and support legislation that helps our small businesses grow and create jobs and put the state back on the pathway to success that benefits us all.”

The Mississippi Manufacturers Association represents 133,000 manufacturing employees in all 82 counties, accounting directly for 17 percent of the Magnolia State’s economy.  Speaking for the MMA was Meridian steel manufacturer Tommy Dulaney, who said: “Greg Snowden has supported Mississippi manufacturers throughout his three terms in the Legislature.  Greg has fought hard to keep taxes low and governmental red tape to a minimum.  Greg’s has been a pro-growth, pro-jobs agenda, and the MMA is proud to endorse his re-election for House District 83.”

Unlike the NFIB and the MMA, BIPEC does not actually endorse legislators; rather, it grades them.  Through a rigorous analysis of key legislative votes, BIPEC annually identifies which members of the House and Senate actively support job creation, and exposes members whom do not.  Speaking Monday for BIPEC, Meridian banker Leslie Usher pointed out that Greg Snowden received an “A” rating on BIPEC annual legislative “Jobs Report Card” in 2011.  In fact, according to Usher, Snowden has earned the coveted “Business Champion” designation (BIPEC’s highest) each and every single year he has served in the Mississippi Legislature.

“I am deeply honored to accept the endorsement of Mississippi’s private sector job creators,” said Snowden on Monday.  “My service in the Legislature has been dedicated to keeping taxes low and to eliminating unnecessary governmental regulations.  It’s all about providing good-paying, quality jobs for our communities, and Mississippi entrepreneurs do this better than anyone else when government just stays out of their way.”

Rep. Greg Snowden, a Republican incumbent with twelve years’ seniority, is seeking re-election to the District 83 seat in the Mississippi House of Representatives in the November 8 general election.  Snowden is challenged by two newcomers, a Democrat and an Independent.

VOTE TO RE-ELECT GREG SNOWDEN ON NOVEMBER 8.

Left to Right: Stonewall Mayor Jackie McHenry, Quitman Mayor Eddie Fulton, Rep. Greg Snowden, Enterprise Mayor Larry Murray

QUITMAN, MS – State Representative Greg Snowden has been endorsed for re-election by the three Clarke County mayors whose cities lie all or part within House District 83.  Enterprise Mayor Larry Murray, Stonewall Mayor Jackie McHenry, and Quitman Mayor Eddie Fulton are urging District 83 voters to keep Snowden on the job.

“Greg Snowden is a tremendous asset for the Town of Enterprise,” says Mayor Murray.  “Whenever Enterprise needs something at the Capitol, we call on Greg, and he is always ready and eager to help, whether it’s a grant application, a question about legislation, or some other issue.  We badly need to keep Greg Snowden in Jackson working for us.”

Mayor McHenry agrees.  “Greg is a longtime friend of the Town of Stonewall; in fact, he’s been our town attorney for over 15 years,” says McHenry.  “We rely on Greg’s expertise not only as our lawyer, but as our state representative.  He’s doing an exceptional job for Stonewall and for all of Clarke County, and we need to make sure we reelect Greg on November 8.”

“A legislative committee earlier this year tried to pass a bad redistricting plan which was very unfair for Quitman and all of Clarke County,” says Mayor Fulton.  “Even though the proposal would have helped Greg personally, he stood up for Clarke County and voted against the plan three separate times.  If Greg is reelected, we will have a chance for fair redistricting next year.  Greg Snowden stood up tall for Clarke County when it counted, and we need to stand up tall for him now.”

House District 83 encompasses a large portion of Lauderdale County as well as much of northern Clarke County, including Enterprise and parts of Stonewall and Quitman.  Snowden, a Republican incumbent with twelve years’ seniority, will face a Democratic challenger and an Independent challenger in the November 8 general election.