COLUMN: Focusing on Our Common Goal to Reach Miss.’s Full Potential

Jackson, Miss. – We were humbled the night of Nov. 5 to receive more than 60 percent of the vote for lieutenant governor — an instruction from Mississippians to move forward with our plans to grow our economy, provide every child with quality public educational opportunities, make healthcare more accessible, and shore up our roads and bridges.

The morning of Nov. 6, the hard work began to put these plans into action.

My first objective was to set up personal meetings with each and every one of our 52 senators, Republicans and Democrats. Forty-five meetings in, I am so encouraged by our discussions. I’ve learned a lot about my new colleagues’ professional and personal backgrounds, the needs in their districts, their preference on committee assignments, and their individual legislative goals.

I’ve also learned no matter our political differences, we all have a common goal: seeing Mississippi rise to its fullest potential.

During this transition period, we are also making headway on fulfilling a primary platform promise by increasing transparency at the state Capitol. In partnership with the Legislative Budget Office and Mississippi Public Broadcasting, we are working on piloting a program on the Senate side to webcast committee meetings in addition to floor debate. This will be the first time ever Senate committees have been available by webcast.

Our Capitol may be physically located in Jackson, but we serve the entire state. Taxpayers deserve to know and observe how we are working together to solve challenges facing Mississippi without traveling a great distance.

Finally, we are in the process of identifying the policy initiatives we can immediately garner support for in the coming months. Some issues, like the gradual reorganization of government, will take contemplation and consensus-building during the break after the legislative session. Others, such as another much-needed pay raise for our teachers and other hard-working State employees, are immediately on our priority list in January.

Our public school teachers deserve our monetary support, as well as our respect — and we will be demonstrating both this Legislation Session.

The holiday season is about celebrating our faith, spending time with our families, and giving thanks for our blessings. This year, I am so grateful for the opportunity Mississippians in every corner of our state have given us. And I’m looking forward, as your next lieutenant governor, to working with all of you to make Mississippi an even better place for our children and grandchildren.

Delbert Hosemann is lieutenant governor-elect of Mississippi.

View Original Column

Decisive Victory: Hosemann Elected Mississippi’s Next Lt. Governor

Jackson, Miss. – The votes are cast and the race called: Delbert Hosemann will take office in January as Mississippi’s next Lieutenant Governor.

With 90 percent of precincts reporting, Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann has been named the winner in the Lieutenant Governor’s race with almost 61 percent of the vote.

In August, Hosemann won the Republican nomination in a landslide, garnering almost 86 percent of total ballots cast.

“I am proud of the positive, issue-driven campaign we ran, and I am so grateful to voters for instilling their confidence in me. We have real challenges in Mississippi, and our team has concrete plans to address them,” said Hosemann from a watch party in Jackson with his wife, Lynn, and children and grandchildren. “We will not let our foot off the gas and we will not let you down. Now, the real work to make Mississippi an even better place for our children and grandchildren begins.”

In the days leading up to Election Day, Hosemann visited every corner of the State holding events, attending rallies, visiting schools, and engaging with voters. Dozens of staff members, volunteers, and grassroots supporters also reached out to voters on behalf of the campaign. Lynn Hosemann traveled to many Mississippi cities in the final weeks, going door-to-door to businesses on Main Streets.

A slew of organizations endorsed Hosemann for Lieutenant Governor including Mississippi Right to Life, National Right to Life, National Rifle Association, Mississippi Realtors, Mississippi Manufacturers Association, Bully Bloc, Police Benevolent Association, American Subcontractors Association, and others. BIPEC named him “Best for Business.”

Current and former public officials from many different political parties also backed Hosemann’s candidacy including Governor Phil Bryant, Congressman Trent Kelly, Congressman Michael Guest, Congressman Steven Palazzo, Vicksburg Mayor George Flaggs, and former Secretary of State Eric Clark.

As a steadfast conservative who spent most of his career as a businessman in the private sector, Hosemann’s platform touches several major areas centered on growing Mississippi’s economy. These include: refocusing on skills training and increasing the State’s educated workforce; reducing unnecessary regulations and streamlining state government; encouraging small business and start-up growth; shoring up aging infrastructure; and improving access to healthcare and improving health outcomes.

For more information about Hosemann or the campaign, visit www.delberthosemann.com.

Vicksburg Mayor Endorses Hometown Candidate Hosemann for Lt. Governor

Vicksburg, Miss.—Vicksburg Mayor George Flaggs endorsed Delbert Hosemann for Lieutenant Governor in a 30-second ad launched today. Hosemann, who is currently serving as Secretary of State, grew up in Warren County.

Central tenets of Hosemann’s platform including increasing career and technical opportunities for K-12 students and supporting small businesses – issues Flaggs has championed as a Mississippi mayor.

“We need a strong leader who knows how to bring people together, and that’s why I’m supporting Delbert Hosemann,” said Flaggs, a former member of the Mississippi House of Representatives. “He has big ideas to grow our economy . . . and grow our workforce for the future.”

Hosemann and Flaggs have partnered together on several projects including tax-forfeited property auctions, which are instrumental to eliminating blight and getting dormant properties back on the tax rolls and into productive use.

“[Delbert will] make Vicksburg proud as the next Lieutenant Governor of the State of Mississippi,” Flaggs concludes.

The General Election is November 5, 2019. For more information about Hosemann’s campaign for Lieutenant Governor, visit www.delberthosemann.com.

View Original Ad

Golden Triangle Small Business Owners Featured in New Hosemann Ad on Educated Workforce, Jobs

Columbus, Miss.—Delbert Hosemann’s latest ad, launching in Northeast Mississippi this week, uses humor to draw attention to a subject critically important to the State’s future: workforce development.

The 30-second spot features Katie McCrary (McCrary-West Construction) and Nic Parish (Burns Dirt Construction), who, along with other small business owners across Mississippi, are facing a shortage in the skilled workers necessary to power their businesses.

Hosemann is running for Lieutenant Governor. A central tenet of his platform is increasing career and technical opportunities for K-12 students in order to grow the State’s economy.

“‘Englebert’ Hosemann will support public schools, build an educated workforce for our future, and incentivize small businesses,” McCrary says, in a nod to Hosemann’s iconic commercial from his 2007 run for Secretary of State, which played on his unique name to inform viewers of his goals if elected.

Parish tries to correct McCrary throughout the spot (“It’s ‘Eggbert,’ Katie”), finally concluding: “Let’s just call him Lieutenant Governor Hosemann.”

“That sounds great to me,” McCrary responds.

Hosemann first connected with McCrary and Parish in February 2018, when Hosemann helped organize a meeting between the Lowndes County School District, East Mississippi Community College, and small businesses in the Golden Triangle region. The meeting was aimed at brainstorming ways to ensure students have the opportunity during high school to gain practical skills training.

Since then, McCrary, Parish, and other business leaders have joined together to form a group called FORGE, which works with K-12 schools to “make trades cool again” and increase awareness about job opportunities in the community. FORGE launches its website this week: https://forgeyourpath.org.

“We cannot wait until Graduation Day to ask our students what they want to do for the rest of their lives. We have to start preparing them now, and businesses in the Golden Triangle have taken a significant step toward making this happen in their community,” Hosemann said. “I look forward to supporting them in their efforts as Lieutenant Governor.”

The General Election is November 5, 2019. For more information about Hosemann’s campaign for Lieutenant Governor, visit www.delberthosemann.com.

View TV Ad

Cash-on-Hand Listed at $2.73M in Final Month of Lt. Governor Campaign

Jackson, Miss.—With a month to go before the November 5 General Election, Lieutenant Governor candidate Delbert Hosemann is reporting a formidable $2.73 million in his campaign coffer.

Since July 1, Hosemann has raised $539,687.77 from individuals, businesses, and organizations. According to a campaign finance report released today, $2,733,977.93 cash-on-hand remains in Hosemann’s account as of September 30, 2019. The report detailed campaign finance activity from July 1 to September 30.

“As we travel the State, we’re getting great feedback about our plan for an even brighter Mississippi for our children and grandchildren. We’re staying positive and talking about our record of getting things done, and that is resonating with voters,” Hosemann said. “If Mississippians choose to hire me for the job, I’ll be ready to hit the ground running in January on healthcare, education, and growing our economy.”

As a steadfast conservative who spent most of his career as a businessman in the private sector, Hosemann’s platform touches several major areas centered on growing Mississippi’s economy. These include: refocusing on skills training and increasing the State’s educated workforce; reducing unnecessary regulations and streamlining state government; encouraging small business and start-up growth; shoring up aging infrastructure; and improving access to healthcare and improving health outcomes.

Hosemann announced his campaign for Lieutenant Governor in early January with a three-day tour to businesses in Vicksburg, Brookhaven, Columbus, DeSoto County, Greenwood, Hattiesburg, Meridian, Rankin County, Tupelo, and the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Since then, Hosemann and his wife, Lynn—along with campaign staff and dozens of volunteers—have been on the road participating in forums, roundtables, festivals, and other events across the State.

For more information about the campaign, visit www.delberthosemann.com.

New Ad Features Coast Sheriffs, Touts Hosemann’s Dedication to Miss. Gulf Coast

Pascagoula, Miss.—Two Mississippi Gulf Coast sheriffs take leading roles in Delbert Hosemann’s latest ad for Lieutenant Governor.

The spot is a spin on Hosemann’s iconic commercial from his 2007 run for Secretary of State, which played on his unique name to inform viewers of his record and goals if elected.

“We’re here to talk to you about our friend ‘Gilbert’ Hosemann for Lieutenant Governor,” Jackson County Sheriff Mike Ezell says.

Harrison County Sheriff Troy Peterson corrects Ezell: “It’s Delbert, Sheriff.”

The two go on to talk about Hosemann’s commitment to the Coast and to law enforcement.

During his three terms as Secretary of State, Hosemann has turned back more than $100 million for projects on the Gulf Coast through Tidelands leases, and acquired and conserved thousands of acres of land for future generations.

As State Land Commissioner, Hosemann continues to fight for answers about the operation of the Bonnet Carré Spillway, which recently caused a spike in the death of marine life in the Mississippi Sound.

“‘Gilbert’ cares about the Coast as much as we do,” Ezell concludes.

The General Election is November 5, 2019. For more information about Hosemann’s campaign for Lieutenant Governor, visit www.delberthosemann.com.

View TV Ad

New Lt. Governor TV Ad Focuses on Hosemann’s Record

Jackson, Miss.—In a new ad released today, Delbert Hosemann makes it clear why voters should select him as their next Lieutenant Governor: his proven record of getting things done.

Hosemann recounts his accomplishments in his three terms as Secretary of State including modernizing Mississippi’s business laws, raising almost $1 billion for public schools through 16th Section land leases, and overseeing the implementation of a constitutional Voter ID law to protect the integrity of elections.

Now, Hosemann says in the 30-second spot, it is time to look to the future.

“I’m a conservative, and I care about leaving a better-educated, healthier, and more prosperous Mississippi,” Hosemann says, providing that his focus if elected will be on creating good-paying jobs, supporting public education, increasing access to healthcare, and shoring up infrastructure.

“And when I make you a promise, I keep it,” Hosemann concludes.

The General Election is November 5, 2019. For more information about Hosemann’s campaign for Lieutenant Governor, visit www.delberthosemann.com.

View TV Ad

Lt. Governor Candidate Delbert Hosemann Proposes Savings Plan to Raise State Employee Salaries

Clarksdale, Miss.—State employees would receive up to a 3 percent pay increase under a plan outlined by Lieutenant Governor candidate Delbert Hosemann in the Mississippi Delta today. The raise would be funded by saving 1 percent in administrative and overhead expenses in almost every State agency. Education, Mental Health, Child Protective Services, Corrections, and District Attorneys/Trial Judges would be exempt.

“We are not talking about cutting personnel or services; we are talking finding efficiencies,” said Hosemann, who is currently serving as Secretary of State. “Our State employees are underpaid, making it difficult to attract and retain workers. We need to send savings realized home in our employees’ paychecks.”

In the 2019 Legislative Session, legislators authorized their first across-the-board raise for employees in several years. The raise was intended to move positions closer to the relevant market rate, so employees received either a position realignment amount, if the amount to reach market rate was less than 3 percent, or a 3 percent increase. Hosemann’s plan would repeat this approach.

Similar proposals in other states have reaped more than anticipated savings.

“Our State employees have earned a well-deserved raise,” Hosemann said.

For more information about Hosemann’s campaign for Lieutenant Governor, visit www.delberthosemann.com.

Hosemann’s Infrastructure Plan Puts Power to Raise Funds in Voters’ Hands

Petal, Miss. – Funds to fix local roads and bridges in disrepair would receive a boost under a plan detailed today by Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann, who is running for Lieutenant Governor. Hosemann discussed the plan at Dunn Roadbuilders in Petal.

Hosemann’s proposal would allow voters in a county to opt to implement a user fee on gasoline and diesel from two to six cents per gallon for roads and bridges in their communities. Money generated by the fee would be in addition to funds already received for local infrastructure.

Under the plan, a majority of county supervisors would vote to place the local option on the next General Election ballot. The option would specify to voters the projects that funds would be allocated toward, and the fee increase would sunset after those projects were completed.

“Right now, we have more than 420 local bridges closed due to disrepair. Our counties and communities need solutions, and this proposal puts the power in the hands of the voters, where it belongs,” Hosemann said. “Mississippi should be run from the counties and not in the Capitol.”

Under the plan, all of the money generated by a local option would go directly to the county to be shared with municipalities, without any reduction from the State, for repair and maintenance on existing roads and bridges. Funds could not be used for equipment, new construction, salaries, or other costs. They also could not be used to reduce current county road and bridge expenditures.

A bill passed during the 2018 Special Session, the Mississippi Infrastructure Modernization Act, addressed some concerns, but more funds are needed to ease infrastructure woes. Other states have successfully implemented a local option user fee on gasoline.

For more information about Hosemann’s campaign for Lieutenant Governor, visit www.delberthosemann.com.

Endorsement Statement from Former SOS Eric Clark

Jackson, Miss. – “Delbert Hosemann has been an excellent Secretary of State. In particular, he has required strong management of our public lands – 16th Section lands to support our public schools, and Tidelands on the Gulf Coast. That is a subject that is very close to my heart. I know he will do the same as Lieutenant Governor, and I’m going to vote for him on November 5.”

The General Election is November 5, 2019. For more information about Hosemann’s campaign for Lieutenant Governor, visit www.delberthosemann.com.