The Magnolia Political Report
In case you missed it, Lieutenant Governor Amy Tuck switched to the Republican Party in a press conference on Monday in the Capitol Rotunda. When I first heard that it was going to happen, my response was, "Wow, that's pretty big." My source told me that response was the understatement of the year. Tuck's switch is huge political news to be addressed independently of the rest of the scoops around the state. So until that analysis is ready, here is the rest of the current political scene.

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2003 Campaigns and Rumor Mill
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Increased tension between the trial lawyer lobby and Governor Ronnie Musgrove, as well a stepped up media presence and commercials criticizing the governor, have some people talking about a challenge in the Democratic Primary for the Mansion by Jackson attorney John Arthur Eaves, Jr.

More switchers on the way? Observers of the legislature expect more switchers before the end of the year. Four senators and five representatives are on the short list to move from the Democratic Party to the Republican Party. More local officials in South Mississippi are also expected to make the jump soon.

Speaker of the House Tim Ford is expected to announce his intentions for the future soon. One source tells MagnoliaReport.com that Ford has already decided on his next career move. Hint: it isn't Speaker of the House.

Senator Bill Minor (D) and DeSoto Supervisor John Caldwell (R) have both confirmed they are seeking the post of Northern Transportation Commissioner Zack Stewart. Other names rumored for the spot include Senator Alan Nunnelle (R), former Representative Terry Brown (R) and Representative Ricky Cummings (D).

Southaven Republican Mayor Greg Davis had been mentioned as a name for Lieutenant Governor on the GOP side, but he attended the Tuck Press Conference on Monday and said he supported her decision. Insiders suggest he may be in the hunt to run against Democrat Marshall Bennett for Treasurer. Meanwhile, Republicans anxious to run a full formidable ticket in the 2003 cycle are talking about former Jackson City Councilman Daryl Neely against Eric Clark for Secretary of State.

In a cover story on Andy Taggart in the November issue of the Delta Business Journal, DJB Editor Jack Criss asks Taggart about his future political aspirations. Taggart replies, "I won't be coy about it. I am seriously thinking about a run next year. I've always thought the office of attorney general would be a good place to have input in making effective policy for the state. While I will not run against the current AG, if he decides to go in another direction, I'd have to look at the possibility of running." Taggart is currently in private practice as an attorney and corporate relations/public affairs consulting.

DeSoto County Election Commissioner W. T. "Ted" Mayhall (R-Hernando) announced Monday that he will be a candidate for the newly created House of Representatives District 40 in 2003. He was appointed Election Commissioner in 1999 to fill the unexpired term of Nell McCormack and was elected to the seat in 2000. He submitted his resignation Monday for that post pursuant to the state law that requires election commissioners to resign from their posts before January 1 of the year they plan to seek another office. The Board of Supervisors will appoint someone to finish out the term concluding after the 2003 election cycle. Mayhall is retired from DuPont Pharmaceuticals and spent 30 years in pharmaceutical sales.

State Representative Valeria Robertson (R-Olive Branch) said Monday she will retire from her seat as District 6 State Representative at the end of the 2003 session in April. Robertson was first elected in 1995. Olive Branch pharmacist Forrest Hamilton has already announced that he is interested in Robertson's seat. Earlier, Chris Wilson (R-Southaven), Southaven's city administrator, had been mentioned as a candidate for this seat, as well as other yet unannounced local Republicans.

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Politics Online
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The Mississippi Republican Party has redesigned its web site. The new www.msgop.org is less cluttered and features news stories and quick loading pictures on the front page, as well as all the information from the previous site on additional pages.

With the tag line "2003 will be here soon... STAY TUNED!", www.merleflowers.com seems to confirm rumors floating around North Mississippi that Merle Flowers will be running for the new State Senate District 19 seat. Flowers (R) is a senior aid to Congressman Roger Wicker. The site pictures Flowers along side President George W. Bush.

In an e-mail alert to Republican Party faithful, GOP Chairman Jim Herring put out a call for volunteers to assist in the Louisiana Senate Race Run-off. He wrote, "While our work for the 2002 elections is behind us, our neighbors in Louisiana still have two more weeks of campaigning for their December 7th run-off election. The Republican National Committee is looking for volunteers to work on turning out Republican voters in Monroe on Saturday, November 30th and on Saturday, December 7th (Election Day). Volunteers will help with door-to-door and telephone bank turn out operations designed to get every Republican voter to the polls....If you are interested in volunteering on either Saturday (Nov. 30 or Dec. 7) to help elect Republicans in Louisiana, please contact Kim Gallaspy by e-mail kim@msgop.org) or by phone, 601-948-5191."

In a thank-you e-mail note to supporters, Clinton LeSueur gave notice that he would be back to challenge 2nd District Congressman Bennie Thompson again in 2004. He wrote, "You should also know that this mission is not complete. We will return in 2004 for the victory celebration and the seat. I am honored to represent the Republican Party." Tchula Mayor Yvonne Brown is also rumored as a Republican challenger in this seat and George Irvin has said he will be back in the Democratic Primary. Thompson has not announced his intentions for 2004. He won reelection to his sixth term last month with 54% of the vote.

Dr. John Holleman (D-Oxford) has launched an exploratory committee to consider challenging First Congressional District Representative Roger Wicker. Holleman has served as the Director of the Ole Miss MBA Program since 1998 and is a native of Dallas, Texas. He formerly served as Dean for University Relations and Associate Professor of Human Behavior at Amberton University in Dallas. In addition to his 12 years of work in higher education, Holleman has worked as a professional counselor for over 10 years in a combination of private practice and community agency settings. Holleman also is the owner-operator of an online music store www.OxfordMusic.com. In the video message on his campaign web page www.johnholleman.com he describes himself as a "New Democrat" and discusses his position on generally economic issues.

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Lotta Influence
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When the 108th Congress convenes at noon Tuesday, January 7, 2003, incoming Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott of Mississippi will ask the United States Senate to elect two Mississippians to body leadership positions. Susan Wooten Wells will be the new Secretary of the Senate and Robert H. (Robbie) Maxwell will be the new Senate Sergeant at Arms.

Wells came to Washington in 1974 to work for then Congressman Lott, as scheduler and in 1996 Administrative Assistant. She received a Bachelor of Science degree in education from Mississippi State University and taught English at Colmer Junior High School in Pascagoula, Mississippi, before beginning her public service career.

Last November, President Bush appointed Maxwell as the Director of the Office of the Police Corps, and Law Enforcement Education at the Department of Justice's Office of Justice Programs. A native of Pascagoula, Mississippi, he served on the Pascagoula Police Department for 24 years before joining the staff of then Congressman Lott as a state field representative. At the time of his appointment to the Police Corps, he was serving as Senator Lott's economic development specialist for Mississippi. Maxwell received a Bachelor of Science degree in criminal justice from the University of Southern Mississippi where he performed graduate studies in the same field and was an instructor. A graduate of the FBI National Academy and the Secret Service Dignitary Protection program, he was the director of the Jackson County (Mississippi) Juvenile Court and served as an officer of the Mississippi Law Enforcement Association.

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Round Up
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Every Vote Counts - In the Democratic Primary for Waveland Alderman Post 4 last month, incumbent Charlez Piazza lost to Santo Saucier Jr by a flip of a coin. Tuesday night after voting, the two candidates were tied at 145 votes each. On Wednesday, after the affidavit ballots were counted, they remained tied at 163 votes each. One person could have made the difference, but the decision was decided by coin toss. The winner faced Republican Judanne English in the general election earlier this week.

The Stone County Republican Party recently presented Nicholas Owens with the Trent Lott Award. Owens currently serves in the Bush Administration as an aid to Federal Credit Union Administration Chairman Dennis Dollar in Washington DC. The award was presented by Haley Barbour.

In the November 18 "Heard on the Hill," Roll Call Daily Editor Ed Henry mentioned Congressman Gene Taylor's recent run in with a razor. "Scarface II? Rep. Gene Taylor (D-Miss.) was sporting a serious bandage on his face last week in the wake of a shaving accident. But the quick-thinking Congressman had a second explanation for inquisitive colleagues. 'I'm auditioning for the 'Scarface' sequel,' he joked about the old gangster movie starring Al Pacino."

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Currently on the Images Page at MagnoliaReport.com: pictures of the Amy Tuck Party Switch Press Conference, Secretary of State Eric Clark in Hancock County, and Thad Cochran with young Mississippians in Washington DC.
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Final Word - Brain Trust
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"We've demonstrated our commitment to the blending of education and technology through programs like the "Computers in the Classroom" initiative. That commitment must be strengthened, and the budget recommendation I have presented for the 2004 fiscal year does it through the Mississippi Brain Trust." - Mississippi Governor Ronnie Musgrove in the Clarion Ledger: November 24, 2002 "And furthermore, in the second Pappy O'Daniel Administration, these boys are going to be my brain trust." - Character of Mississippi Governor Pappy O'Daniel speaking of the Soggy Bottom Boys in "O Brother, Where Art Thou?"

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Magnolia Political Report, 2002 Brian Perry, Editor MagnoliaReport.com
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Three Questions With: Gene Bishop Fire Inspector for the City of Cleveland.

What do you like best about your job?
I enjoy working with the citizens of Cleveland and being a part of the Cleveland Volunteer Fire Department.

What do you like best about living in Bolivar County?
I appreciate how friendly the people are here.

How could Bolivar County be improved?
I think we could do more to encourage new industry to move into the County. I would also like to see the county work more closely with the Tourism Committee to help better utilize our natural resources, more specifically the Mississippi River on the west side of the county.