Transportation Commissioner Special Election Candidates

About a third of the state is eligible to vote in the January 11 special election, although the holidays and voter fatigue make for interesting campaign schedules and surely a low turnout.

Here are brief profiles of the seven candidates in the Northern District Transportation Commissioner race to replace the late Bill Minor:

John Caldwell is a Desoto county native and has served in a variety of positions including Transportation Director for Desoto County Schools as well as Supervisor. In 2003, he was the Republican nominee for this position but was called to military service for six months of that campaign.

Here is a quote from Caldwell: “Some of you know this job as ‘Road Commissioner’ because of the deep impact it has on Mississippi’s highways. This year it may impact much more than your highway. It can change our future. Right leadership in transportation can and should translate to safer travel, job growth and economic development.”

Dennis Grisham is a Tippah county native where he is a long serving Supervisor. He also previously served as president of the Mississippi Association of Supervisors.

Here is a statement from Grisham: “As a veteran Tippah County supervisor. I know that to most of our citizens transportation means highways – roads to and from work, highways that attract new and expanded industry, and that brings more jobs.”

Joey Hood is a native of Itawamba county and a17 year veteran of the Department of Transportation and had been an assistant to Minor since 2008.

Here is a statement from Hood: “I’ve got lots of hands-on experience. I started my career at the very bottom and worked my up through the ranks. I’ve done everything as far as the commission is concerned except vote in a commission meeting. … I’ve seen it from the ground up.”

Larry Lee lives in Grenada and is a businessman, and says a personal dealing with the DOT cost him nearly $100,000 in a deal involving land where his business was located.

Here is a quote from Lee: “I want to improve the business practices of the department and make sure it is fair to everyone. I want to restore the trust people used to have in MDOT, and I want to protect the taxpayers’ dollars.”

Warner McBride is a Panola county native and currently serves as a state representative and chairs the Transportation Committee. He is a Democrat, but stressed his independence in a Daily Journal piece noting that “he is not declaring a party label for the special election, which is nonpartisan.”

Here is statement from McBride: “I am willing to work with the governor, the Mississippi Development Authority and other members of the Legislature to make these things happen.”

Ray Minor is native of Benton county (although he lives in Marshall county now) and is the younger brother of Bill Minor. The brothers were business partners and established a plumbing business which grew into a chain of hardware stores. The younger brother often invokes the legacy of his late brother, and continuing where he left off:

“On November 1, 2010, The State of Mississippi was hit with tragedy. Bill Minor, transportation commissioner for North Mississippi died of a sudden heart attack. Mississippi lost a great public servant, and I lost a dear brother. It is my desire to see to it that the projects Bill was working on are completed.”

Bill Minor was a Democrat and when asked which party Ray would align with, he said, “we will cross that bridge when we get there.”

Mike Tagert lives in Starkville and currently serves as president of the Tenn-Tom Waterway Development Council. He has identified himself as a Republican.

Here is a statement from Tagert: “Transportation means jobs for north Mississippi,” Tagert said in a prepared statement. “It is the catalyst for economic development. Through my work experience and education, I have the needed understanding and the know-how to promote all modes of transportation for the sake of private investment and jobs creation.”