Howard Sherman

Self-described “lifetime” entrepreneur Howard Sherman has spent most of his life in Los Angeles, California but said he feels a connection in Meridian, Mississippi.

Sherman, running to represent Mississippi as the state’s next senator, faces a challenging Democratic primary against five other hopefuls before getting on the ballot with the Republican nominee.

The candidates are hoping to beat Roger Wicker, a Republican who has held the seat since 2007. 

In a crowded race, Sherman bears the closest tie to Meridian, as he and his wife Sela Ward, an actress from Meridian, have been full-time Lauderdale County residents since June of 2016.

Sherman told The Meridian Star in an editorial board meeting this week he “had never taken a paycheck” and built various businesses over the decades, building a niche company for consumers before selling it to another buyer.

“We are very engaged in the community,” Sherman said, citing his and Ward’s efforts with the MSU Riley Center, the Mississippi Arts + Entertainment Experience and Hope Village, “So this whole notion of birther-ism, that I wasn’t born here… we’ve impacted this community.”

Hope Village, an agency established by Sherman and Ward that provides services to neglected and abused children and their families, “is really an extension of our family,” Sherman said.

Sherman said bills impacting Hope Village, from both the state and congressional senate, pushed him to run for office.

In Mississippi, House Bill 2179 established the Mississippi Department of Child Protection Services, separating its services from the Department of Human Services.

The agency has been plagued with a $40 million budget shortfall and difficulties securing funding for its responsibilities outlined in the settlement of a federal lawsuit.

Representatives Omeria Scott and David Baria, both running for the Democratic nomination, voted for the bill in 2016.

“They’re running on the fact that they’ve experienced legislators but they missed that?” Sherman said. “(Hope Village’s Executive Director) told me, ‘We haven’t had any new kids because they can’t afford to send us any.’ This is what happens when you have, and I’m not trying to sound like our president here, career politicians. Nobody forgets revenue in the private sector.”

In February, Wicker voted for the Family First Prevention Services Act, a part of the budget of 2018. This law, House Bill 253, revised “foster care maintenance payments for children with parents in a licensed residential family-based treatment facility,” which Sherman said affected Hope Village.

“There’s not a single home in the state that satisfies that,” Sherman said. “Technically, Hope Village should close.” 

Sherman also discussed his businesses in the health industry, including tele-medicine and making Mississippi a place for medical tourism, or a place where others will travel for medical procedures for a reduced cost. 

“If you lower the price, you’re going to get a lot more of it,” Sherman said. “A lot of what I do is bring technology to help lower costs in healthcare.”

For areas such as the Delta, which may not have the same healthcare infrastructure, Sherman suggested bringing corn manufacturers, such as corn chips, into the area. 

“These are not party solutions, these are common sense solutions,” Sherman said. “I don’t doubt all three of us (candidates) would vote for whatever is best for Mississippi but would they be as creative?… No, because that’s where I live.”

Sherman said his experience in the private sector, unlike the other candidates, could be beneficial in the Democratic primary.

In the general election, moderate Republicans “who’ve had it with President Trump” and others could be attracted to Sherman’s candidacy. 

“As an entrepreneur, you’re not afraid to have an impact,” Sherman said. “I have a lot of investment in this because I believe the state is ready to move forward.”

Sherman faces David Baria, Jensen Bohren, Jerone Garland, Victor G. Maurice Jr. and Omeria Scott in the Democratic primary in June.

The winner of the primary must win a majority of the vote or there will be a runoff election.

The winner of the Democratic nomination will face either Wicker or Republican challenger Richard Boyanton in the general election.