STATE AUDITOR

Shad White

Residence: Flowood.

Party: Republican.

Office sought: State auditor.

Education: University of Mississippi (BA); University of Oxford (Master’s); Harvard Law School (JD).

Work experience: Former Director, Mississippi Justice Institute; former attorney and special prosecutor.

Public offices held and years: Appointed state auditor in July 2018.

Why are you running: Mississippi deserves a tough, energetic state auditor. Since coming into office, I’ve identified millions in taxpayer money that was embezzled. I’m running to continue doing that work.

Why are you a good candidate: My resume is my first 11 months in office. In that time I’ve started a new cyber security initiative, stopped Medicaid money from being paid out for dead recipients, and started reporting on the waste in our education system. As long as I’m your state auditor, I will continue asking the hard questions and doing the work that saves you money, even if it makes some folks uncomfortable.

Contact: Find me on Facebook, on Twitter @shadwhite, or at my website shadwhite.com to sign up for my email list.

COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE AND COMMERCE

Rickey L. Cole

Residence: Ovett, Jones County.

Party affiliation: Democratic.

Office sought: Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce.

Education: Jones County Junior College, Mississippi State University.

Work experience: 31 years working and operating a family farm.

Why are you running: 90% of what Mississippians eat, almost $6 billion dollars worth a year, is produced outside Mississippi. We must buy more of our food locally.

Why are you a good candidate: My record is a lifetime of practical experience growing and marketing Mississippi-grown fruit, vegetables, and meat for a living. It takes common sense born of experience to expand Mississippi growers’ share of the consumers” food dollars. Food is medicine. Our people are unhealthy because too many rely upon processed foods from far away. I am my own man, standing on my own two feet in this race, beholden to no special interests or career politicians of any party. I will answer to no one but the people. I am free to work with anybody, anywhere, anytime to generate greater income for Mississippi growers and greater value for Mississippi consumers. By all of us working together, we can grow our economy, improve our health, and better our quality of life by making Mississippi’s food safe, local and abundant.

Contact: www.Cole4FoodCommissioner.com; 601-342-6041; Email: Rickey@Cole4FoodCommissioner.com.

Andy Gipson

Residence: Simpson County.

Party affiliation: Republican.

Office sought: Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce.

Education: BA in political science from Mississippi College (1999); JD from Mississippi College School of Law (2002).

Work experience: Farmer: cattle and timber; attorney, ordained minister, former legislator.

Public offices held: Mississippi Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce (2018-present); Mississippi House of Representatives, District 77 (2008-2018).

Why are you running: I am running to continue sowing seeds of opportunity for Mississippi agriculture; ensure safe, affordable food; protect rights of producers and consumers through conservative leadership.

Why are you a good candidate: As a farmer and attorney, I have the passion and skills to fight effectively for Mississippi farmers and our rural, conservative values. I advocate for policies so our farmers can compete in international markets as well roadside stands; policies to ensure the agricultural sector is profitable, and we have safe and affordable food; policies that promote markets and grow our economy. My record demonstrates my commitment to Mississippians as your advocate in agriculture and commerce.

Contact: www.AndyGipson.com; info@andygipson.coml

INSURANCE COMMISSIONER

Robert Amos

Party affiliation: Democratic.

Office sought: Insurance commissioner.

Education: Masters, public administration.

Work experience: 23 years as a college professor, teaching healthcare insurance; finance officer, business owner.

Public offices held: None.

Why are you running: I am running for insurance commissioner for all families in Mississippi regardless of political affiliation, race, sexual affiliation or religion.

Why are you a good candidate for this office: Mississippians should have the right to fair and just insurance prices regardless of credit scores. Mississippians should have the right to know how the insurance industry responds to major disasters in Mississippi. All Mississippians should have affordable healthcare, and those who can’t afford it should have federal assistance.

STATE TREASURER

David McRae

Residence: Ridgeland, Madison County

Party affiliation: Republican

Office sought: State Treasurer

Education: Southern Methodist University and Mississippi College School of Law

Work experience: I have spent my entire career as a businessman

Public offices held: None

Why are you running: The State Treasurer’s office is mainly an investment office responsible for managing retirement and college savings investments. I will use my experience and knowledge of Wall Street to grow and protect Mississippi’s investments. I serve as Equity Managing Partner of McRae Investments and am also an attorney. I formulate and direct investment strategy while also assisting the McRae family foundation in various charitable and philanthropic priorities that focus on private sector solutions improving Mississippi’s housing, healthcare, and educational efforts.

Why are you a good candidate for this office: I will use business leadership skills to upset the status quo by bringing transparency, sound investment strategy, and strong debt management, while introducing real customer service for taxpayers.

Contact:

Mailing Address: P.O. Box 24357
Jackson, MS 39225

Home

http://www.facebook.com/DavidMcRae.org/

Twitter: @DavidMcRaeMS

http://www.instagram.com/davidmcraems/

PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSIONER, CENTRAL DISTRICT

Brent Bailey

Residence: Madison County.

Party affiliation: Republican.

Office sought: Public Service Commissioner, Central District.

Education: Attended East Central Community College; B.S. in Engineering from Mississippi State University.

Work experience: Worked at private companies and nonprofit organizations, including Pickering, Inc. and Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation. For the last 13 years, worked with the 25x’25 Alliance to secure energy policies that benefit consumers and serve as a voice for consumers in energy matters.

Public offices held: None

Why are you running: Mississippians are ready for more choice in services, more competition in the marketplace and being respected as consumers. I want to help them achieve these goals.

Why are you a good candidate for this office: Since 2006, I have been directly engaged in matters before the Public Service Commission and have intervened in numerous rule-making and project development dockets serving as a voice and advocate for consumers of utility services and to ensure that the interests of homeowners, business owners and rural areas are represented at the MPSC. I will put customers first and will continue helping homeowners and businesses find ways to lower their bills while ensuring transparency in all proceedings at the MPSC.

Contact: photo 601-573-4815; email brent@brentbailey4psc.com; website: http://brentbailey4psc.com; Facebook: www.facebook.com/BrentBaileyforMSPublicServiceCommissioner; Twitter: @Brentgbailey

Ryan Brown

Residence: Fannin Community of Rankin County.

Party Affiliation: Democratic.

Office Sought: Public Service Commissioner, Central District.

Education: Bachelor of arts, University of Mississippi; Master of public policy and administration, Jackson State University.

Work Experience: Mississippi Deputy Public Service Commissioner (2016-2019), Mississippi Department of Mental Health Policy Coordinator (2012-2015).

Public Offices Held: None.

Why Am I Running: Mississippians deserve a public service commissioner who will fight for them. I am the most qualified candidate who is best prepared to get to work for the people of Mississippi on day one.

Why Am I A Good Candidate For This Position: I am the only candidate in this campaign who worked for the Public Service Commission. During my time at the Commission, I helped hundreds of Mississippians and small businesses when they had issues with their utility providers. I helped save city and county governments and our state’s public schools thousands of dollars on their utility bills which kept taxpayers’ hard-earned money in their pockets. I traveled to every county in the district challenging cell phone companies’ coverage maps to help improve our state’s cell phone coverage. I worked with our community colleges to build career pipelines for our young people so they can get a good-paying job here in east Mississippi so they do not have to move away from their family and friends to start a career.

Contact: Call or text 769-230-0760 or email Ryan@BrownForMS.com. Visit BrownForMS.com and Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and Twitter.

Nic Lott

Residence: Jackson.

Party affiliation: Republican.

Office sought: Public Service Commissioner, Central District

Education: BA, political science, Ole Miss.

Work experience: Office of Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott;  Office of House Conference Committee Chairman JC Watts;  Office of Governor Haley Barbour, Mississippi Development Authority, Hurricane Katrina Disaster Recovery.

Why are you running: A firm believer in limited government and the free market, I am committed to using our natural resources to create an energy policy that provides all of us safe, clean, and efficient power at a low price; maximum economic opportunity by seeking to provide access to broadband technology statewide; and cracking down on those who violate our laws regarding harassing phone calls from illegal spammers.

Why are you a good candidate for this office: Economic Development has been a lifelong passion. No economic system in human history has allowed more wealth to be created and pulled more people out of poverty than free market capitalism. Mississippi must continue to provide a low regulatory climate, low taxes, and a low cost of living so that our businesses, both large and small, can compete with the rest of the world. Keeping energy rates low is crucial to making that happen. But a traditional Republican cannot win the Central Mississippi district. That is why Governor Phil Bryant asked me to run for PSC Central, and Haley Barbour along with Trent Lott support me in a district that is 54% African American.

Contact: Friends of Nic Lott, PO Box 320534,  Flowood, MS 39232;  www.NicLott.com;  601-933-0380; Info@NicLott.com.

Dane Maxwell

Residence: Pascagoula, MS/Jackson County.

Party affiliation: Republican.

Office sought: Public Service Commissioner, Southern District.

Work experience: Retired Marine; retired law enforcement; worked at the Public Service Commission as chief of staff; business owner.

Public offices held: Mayor, Pascagoula 2017-present.

Why are you running: I am running to help ensure that utility rates remain at a fair rate and to also help put an end to pesky robocalls that disrupt our daily lives.

Why are you a good candidate for this office: I am the only candidate that has previously worked at the PSC so I can start on day 1. My experience in not only municipal government but also national politics will benefit me when dealing with utility companies and also working with our legislatures. I will also work to search for grant opportunities that can help municipalities.

Contact: www.danemaxwellms.com; dane@danemaxwellms.com; 228-216-4600.

De’Keither Stamps

Residence: Jackson.

Party affiliation: Democrat.

Office sought: Central District Public Service Commissioner.

Education: Some college.

Work experience: Retired military, small business owner, city councilman.

Public offices held: City of Jackson City councilman for 6 years.

Why are you running: To provide affordable rates, reliable services, and to ensure that everyone has access to utilities in Mississippi.

Why are you a good candidate for this office: We have a proven track record of service and leadership. We will work hard to build the economy of Mississippi as we expand access to rural Mississippi.

Contact: phone 769-208-3716; 4542 Robinson Road, Jackson, MS 39284; FriendsofDekeitherStamps@Gmail.com;  www.DekeitherStamps.com.

CENTRAL MISSISSIPPI TRANSPORTATION COMMISSIONER

Butch Lee

Residence: Brandon.

Party affiliation: Republican.

Office sought: Central Mississippi Transportation Commissioner.

Education: BS biology, University of Southern Mississippi; BS fire administration, Memphis State University.

Work experience: Fire service McComb Fire Department; State Service Career, Mississippi State Fire Academy, retired 2005.

Public offices held: Planning commissioner, city of Brandon; Alderman, city of Brandon, 2009-2013; mayor, city of Brandon, 2013-present.

Why are you running: I believe we need innovation and work to develop a long-term, comprehensive strategy for highway and bridge maintenance and construction, so as to provide a safe transportation system.

Why are you a good candidate for office: I have experienced first hand the challenges facing our infrastructure. I understand the importance of budgeting and planning for critical future projects. I have been active in construction projects, such as the I-20 exit 56 and Highway 80 widening projects, construction of bridges over I-20 and KCS railroad, the construction of the Brandon Amphitheater, and many other municipal projects. We must work diligently to address the maintenance and capacity issues facing our highways, bridges, ports and airports. I understand the associated costs and have necessary experience working with concrete, asphalt and steel in construction transportation projects. Since 2017, I serve as the chairman of the Jackson Metropolitan Planning Commission for three metro area counties.

Contact: ButchLeeforMS@gmail.com; 601-906-9169; www.ButchLeeforMS.com.