Jackson Free Press

JACKSON — The oldest of five, Debra Gibbs says she has always been an independent woman. She was born and raised in Gulfport but moved to Jackson on her own after graduating from the University of Southern Mississippi with her bachelor's degree in accounting. Gibbs says she was good with numbers even in high school.

"When I started out, that's what I wanted to do," Gibbs says. "I wanted to be a businesswoman and be in corporate America."

Gibbs worked for the company that is now Entergy after she graduated from USM and then received her master's in business administration from Mississippi College when she moved to Jackson in 1980. Gibbs went on to work at Jackson State University, starting the Center for Professional Development and teaching in the School of Business.

Gov. Ray Mabus' administration then recruited her to work as the director of accounting and finance at the Mississippi Department of Human Services, where she remained through 1996.

At that point, Gibbs was a mother of two young children and decided to go back to law school, since her husband, Robert Gibbs, was able to support the family. He was a circuit-court judge at the time and then would later return to practicing law.

"I just felt that a law degree is a broad degree that allows you to help people, and I've always had a servant heart and wanted to help people and make sure that they have a better quality of life," she says.

Gibbs stayed at home to raise her children after she clerked at the Mississippi Supreme Court, but she remained actively engaged in her kids' education, participating in PTA and committee meetings and working with Parents for Public Schools.

In 2010, she was appointed the commissioner of the Mississippi Workers' Compensation Commission and served in that role until 2014. She now practices general law at Gibbs Travis LLC. Gibbs lives in northwest Jackson with her husband. They have two adult children: Ariana, who just finished law school, and Justis, who is a junior at Howard University.

What made you want to run for District 72?

Well, I've been active in the community for over 30 years since I've lived in Jackson. I have two intelligent young children, and I'm married with a family, and I have concerns of our community, of our state and our city. I see the decline in our community, and I sense the frustration and disappointment of our neighbors in the community, and at this time, I feel like I am the right person at the right place to be able to be a problem solver and to help us with some of the issues and concerns that we have in District 72.

What does District 72 need the most right now?

District 72 needs a strong leader, and I think District 72 needs a fighter. I say that because as I travel around the district and I'm knocking on doors, those are the sentiments I'm receiving. They want a leader, they want to be heard, and they want someone to be able to fight for them for their issues and concerns.

They want their leader to come back to their neighborhood and communicate with them—they want to be a part of the process in terms of what's going on in the state Legislature. I've been a leader when I served in Parents for Public Schools, as chair of the board, and I've had to be able to work in a bi-partisan manner to make sure that diverse groups' opinions were heard, and we were able to come up with viable solutions.

What policy issues are important to District 72?

Education and families would be two major things. Also, I want to expand Medicaid. They are concerned about the infrastructure, particularly here in the capital city, as well as the infrastructure for the state as a whole. ... The other thing would be safety; in terms of crime, they want to be safe in their homes and safe in their communities and have the type of culture and life where they can enjoy living in the city and be exposed to different cultural things as well.

What policies would you suggest, and what legislation areas do you plan to get involved in?

I would continue to do what I've been doing—that is being proactive. And I would use my skills and talents to have a bipartisan coalition where we can all sit at the table to ensure that those issues and concerns are met. As a junior representative, it would be far-fetched of me to tell you I would have this bill or that, but I do think I would be able to use my expertise and learning the amendment process to make sure I can make changes and add things that will benefit District 72.

Because of my prior relationship with those I know personally in the House and the Senate, I would be able to utilize those relationships to be a part of the team and come up with viable solutions. And I think relationships make a difference, when people kind of know you, I think they are more receptive to having you as a part of the team.

What committees do you would want to serve on in the House?

The Appropriations Committee because of my background. I'm the only (candidate) who's been a director of accounting and finance ... . The other committee would be the Insurance Committee. As commissioner of the Workers' Compensation Committee, I have worked in the insurance industry, and I 've had to look at the complex law as it relates to worker's compensation.

The other committee would be Education. I've been at the table the past 30 years when policies and procedures have been developed (in Jackson Public Schools). I also would like to work on expanding Medicaid, and because I am an attorney, Judiciary A or B would be very viable because that deals with the civil and criminal laws in the state of Mississippi.

What types of education policies would help the state?

We all talk about MAEP (Mississippi Adequate Education Program), so first and foremost, we need to fund MAEP, so we need to do that and follow the mandate that (it) be funded every year. Teachers should be able to get money for classroom supplies; teachers should be paid adequately, and the schools should be funded so our students are getting a quality education. Without that, it dries up everything else, which includes economic development, so if children are not being properly taken care of, then the rest of the cycle doesn't work.

The first thing I would do is try to have a bipartisan coalition where we can sit at a table and find some common ground. We might not get the whole thing done, but there (is common ground) where we can chip at piece by piece where we can come up with some viable solutions so that our children can be served.

... In the past we've given corporations more opportunities than we have our children than we have our elderly and underserved, and we've got to change that focus. I understand business, and we need to have that for economic development, but we shouldn't do that on the backs of our children and our elderly.

Are you declaring a political party affiliation?

I am a Democrat.

For more District 72 special-election coverage, visit jfp.ms/2016elections. The special election for District 72 is Aug. 23. Email state reporter Arielle Dreher at [email protected]. Visit jfp.ms/state for more state and political news.