Jackson Free Press

The news of Malcolm White's resignation as director of the state's tourism division was almost as puzzling as the news three years ago that Gov. Phil Bryant was hiring him.

After all, Hal & Mal's, the restaurant White started three decades ago with his brother, Hal, is a preferred hangout for Democratic whistle whetters. Nonetheless, in December 2012, Brent Christensen—the then-director of the Mississippi Development Authority, which has purview over developing tourism—with the blessing of the Republican governor brought White on board.

"The experience he brings to this position and the vast amount of knowledge he has of the tourism industry will be beneficial not only to MDA but to the entire state of Mississippi and its tourism offerings, as well," Bryant said in a news release at the time.

Three years later, another release announced White's departure.

"It was time to go," White told the Jackson Free Press recently. "High-level, state government jobs turn over every four years or so. The guy who hired me (Christensen) left. The new director and I agreed that our visions were different. He needed to have his own executive-level team. It was time for me to go and I'm gone. I'm back in the free-enterprise system."

Christensen left in April for Greensboro, N.C. His replacement, Glenn McCullough Jr., gave White high marks. In addition to rebranding the division to Visit Mississippi, McCullough credits White with doubling advertising return on investment to $12.93 for every $1 spent and implemented the Year of the Creative Economy.

White says he has no hard feelings and that he now has more time for other things—namely, locking horns with the City of Jackson over a plan that allows one new business to stay open 24 hours per day but excludes the stalwart Hal & Mal's.

"I knew when I took the job what it was about, and it's just one of those things, but I have no regrets," White said. "I resigned and I'm at peace. I've moved on. Now, I can go back to raising hell."