Jackson Free Press

Why does Mississippi need you right now?

I am alarmed and outraged at the explosion of incompetence and corruption coming from our state government. Sadly, the politicians in Jackson are becoming just as bad as those in Washington (D.C.). We need a reformer from outside government to come in and clean up this mess. We have to root out the corruption, incompetence, waste, fraud and abuse. We need to end no-bid contracts. We need some fresh faces with new ideas from outside government, not more career bureaucrats. I will reform a broken treasurer’s office and competently manage the taxpayers’ money.

Provide one or two examples of when you have been an advocate for Mississippi in your personal or professional life. What was the result?

Growing up as a fourth generation Mississippian, I learned from my family’s experience with McRae’s Department Stores a strong work ethic and the importance of giving back to the community. I helped the Metro Capital Area Habitat for Humanity secure a significant donation to start their latest project, a neighborhood restoration initiative to revitalize and repair surrounding areas of Habitat homes. Every year we have secured funding to build an additional Habitat house.

As a board member of the American Heart Association, I have focused on building teaching gardens for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Jackson to educate about healthy living, and I assisted in creating the children’s fountains at the Mississippi Museum of Art. In 2014, we announced an endowment for the Henry Vaughan Watkins and Selby Watkins McRae Chair to be held by the Dean of the Law School at Mississippi College.

My wife, Katherine, spent six years working on Hurricane Katrina recovery projects for the Mississippi Development Authority. She serves on the Board of Directors of the Friends of Children’s Hospital and is active in the Mississippi Museum of Art, Habitat for Humanity, Jackson Symphony League, and Junior League of Jackson.

In the past year or so, what was the most important vote taken for Mississippi? How would you have voted and why? What is the most pressing issue for Mississippi?

The treasurer’s office is a mess. The taxpayers deserve someone who will clean it up and competently manage their money. The three most pressing issues for the treasurer’s office is reforming the broken unclaimed-property process currently keeping $31 million from its rightful owners throughout the state, restoring the college savings plan’s reputation after millions of dollars were lost due to ill-advised closure for almost two years, and correcting Mississippi’s negative credit outlook slowing down economic development efforts to secure better jobs for all Mississippians.

If you could propose one piece of legislation that would greatly improve the quality of life for people in Mississippi what would it be?

I will work to root out the waste, fraud, and abuse plaguing our state by leading through example. I will put an end to no-bid contracts in the Treasurer’s office, eliminate wasteful spending of tax dollars on frivolous items like office redecorating, personal glamour shot photography, and personal membership dues in clubs, and hold the government accountable for every tax dollar spent through new detailed online disclosures of spending and contracts. It should go without saying, but I will show up for work each day and not just draw a paycheck from the taxpayers while lobbying for another job.

If you are unsuccessful in winning your race, how specifically will you continue working on behalf of Mississippi?

My family and I have been active in helping build better communities throughout Mississippi long before I ever considered running for office and nothing would change that.