Georgia E. Frye / staff writer
MERIDIAN — Sgt. Major Travis Watkins (retired) of Lake aspires to be the new state senator for District 31, and if elected, he promises to stand by his word.
“Last November, voters sent a message that they will not stand for elected officials who don’t keep their promises,” he said.
On Aug. 7 Watkins will meet incumbent Senator Terry Burton, R-Newton, in the Republican Primary. The winner will face Democratic opponent Fred Hamilton in the November election.
Senate District 31 includes portions of Scott and Lauderdale counties and all of Newton County.
Watkins, speaking at the weekly meeting of the Downtown Optimist Club on Tuesday, said he believes his military background will aid him in his quest for the Senate seat. He served 35 years in the Mississippi Army National Guard, 26 of which were on active duty.
He has served as senior Army instructor at Louisville High School and is employed by IIF Data Solutions in Centreville, Va., as an educational support specialist. He is minister of music at Hopewell Baptist Church in Little Rock.
Watkins said he does not have all the answers when it comes to how East Mississippi can land more jobs or a major industry like Toyota, but he believes he has some good ideas about ways to lead this area into better times.
“If you want to land major industry, you have to have a vision and show a united front,” he said.
Watkins said he decided to run for office after his friends and neighbors asked him to consider. He said he decided to do so after more than a year of praying and soul-searching. He said he chose to run against Burton because he believes the constituents of District 31 deserve accessibility and responsiveness from their senator.
He said he has spoken to some people in the district who do not know who their senator.
“If you don’t know your people and they don’t know you, how do you represent them?” asked Watkins, referring to Burton.
Burton said in a telephone interview Tuesday afternoon that he was disappointed in Watkins’ statement. He said the statement goes against Watkins’ word that he would keep the campaign positive.
“I’m sure there are some people who don’t know and don’t care who their senator is because they don’t participate in the process,” Burton said. “But those who call and ask for help know who I am because I attend events in Newton, Lauderdale and Scott counties, I volunteer my time and I return phone calls.”
