Guest Commentary by Senator Neely Carlton

As you are aware, the Legislature was called into special session on September 5th to first deal with medical tort reform and then to deal with general business tort reform. Everyone understood that “tort reform” of any description was highly controversial, but who would have predicted that the Legislature would still be in session on October 24th?

Many of you have called me to express your opinions for and against tort reform proposals. Others have inquired about the legislative process and expressed concerns over the length and cost of the special session. So, I thought I would take this opportunity to discuss these issues.

The Legislative Process – Is it really like making sausage?

The question implies that making sausage is an unsavory affair. While most people like sausage, they don’t necessarily want to know what is in it or how it was made. So, the answer to the question is both “yes” and “no”.

The legislative process is comparable to making sausage in that both processes seek to satisfy the tastes of consumers, a.k.a. constituents. This is likely where the similarities end.

Sausage makers attempt to use identical ingredients to produce exactly identical units with the goal of uniformity in taste. On the contrary, laws start out as ideas on paper in the form of bills. Every member of the Legislature has the opportunity to add an “ingredient” to the bill that will reflect the tastes of their constituents by amending the bill. There is no goal of uniformity. Most importantly, production of a law is not necessarily a shared goal among the members of the Legislature. Bills often die.

This special session is a perfect example of what I have just described. For starters, tort reform has many different meanings. I have received untold numbers of call, letters and emails for and against tort reform. In Bolivar County, tort reform is about access to healthcare; it is an economic development issue; and it is an issue of fairness and equity for all involved. I thank each person who has taken the time to contact me and express their opinion. Each person has provided me with valuable insight that I have incorporated into my decisions.

No doubt the legislative process involves difficult decisions. You may not like the sausage that it produces, but it is vitally important that you express your opinion to your elected officials on city, county, state and national issues in order for them to understand your “tastes” and represent you more effectively. The diversity of opinion on tort reform among the public is reflected perhaps the length of this session. The Legislature is still considering the best ingredients for this variety of sausage. Most authorities agree that the medical tort reform bill and proposals on general tort reform represent the most important changes in the law in 10 or more years. If this is true, then the extra effort it has taken will be worth the time.

I challenge you to stay involved in the legislative process and I thank you for the opportunity to represent you in the Mississippi State Senate.

"Three Questions With" Ned Mitchell, local businessman Bolivar Insurance

What do you like best about your job?

Being in the insurance business I get to interact with a lot of different people by dealing with their personal business as well as their businesses and professions. So, I have been able to learn about many facets of our community. My job also requires that I be involved with a number of extracurricular activities in Cleveland and the Delta, and I have enjoyed these things while still learning more about what goes on here.

What do you like best about living in Bolivar County?

Bolivar County is a beautiful place, rich in diverse history and natural resources.The connection with the Riverside and the various lakes, the large and well managed farms, our Port, our industrial parks, The Great River Road Park, Highway One, Winterville, The Burrus House, etc -- these are some of the things I like best. However, the absolute magnet for me is Delta State and the culture it brings to Bolivar County.

How could Bolivar County be improved?

I think our county is a "progressive work in progress". Our county government has always been forward thinking, while being conservative with public funds and trying to provide the best public service for our citizens. I think, however, that we need to do everything possible to keep our historical entities (such as the Burrus House), and capitalize on our other resources to bring in more tourism and more people to live and work in Bolivar County. Cleveland can capitalize more on Delta State and needs to do more to create a "college town" atmosphere. Cleveland also needs to cater more to retired people; Delta State can grow and prosper if it can work with the community(Bolivar County, Cleveland and the Delta) to take its sports programs to the next level in order to create added interest in the school, and thereby bring more visitors, tourists and money to our area, including retirees. Bolivar County has much to be thankful for, and I like to think of our community as an "unpolished gem" just waiting to have the finishing touches put on.

Celia A. Ryals Celia A. Ryals, a Cleveland native, was recently named President of Union Planters Bank's Cleveland Office. Celia graduated from Delta State in 1982, and attended LSU Consumer Lending School, Ole Miss School of Banking, and Tennessee Commercial Lending School. Having held many prestigious positions in the banking field, Celia has also been involved with the Chamber of Commerce, Business and Professional Women, and Kiwanis Club. In 2000, she was selected as one of Mississippi's "Top 40 under 40 by the Mississippi Business Journal."

Christopher F. Powell The law firm of Griffith and Griffith recently announced the addition of Christopher F. Powell to the firm. Powell, who received his undergraduate degree in English, taught school for three and a half years as part of a program with the Mississippi Tecaher's Corps. While with the MS Teacher's Corps, Powell received his master's degree. After his time with the Corps, Powell attended Ole Miss Law School, earning his law degree. Having lived in Cleveland since June of 2002, Powell says he enjoys the community and practicing law with the firm.