Fresh off a 2022 in which Mississippi is touting the lowest unemployment rate in the state’s history, Republican Gov. Tate Reeves filed for reelection Tuesday, touting his work to increase jobs, expand economic development and improve education during a term marred by a pandemic, deadly storms and a water crisis in the capital city of Jackson.
Reeves, 48, the former Lt. Governor, was accompanied by his wife, Elee, as he submitted paperwork to the Mississippi Republican headquarters in Downtown Jackson for the 2023 election.
“If you make a promise to the voters during an election, then go out there and fulfill that promise,” Reeves said. “When we ran in 2019, I don’t think we were aware of the types of challenges that would come before us with the 14 natural disasters declared in the first 14 months of my tenure. I think people elected me to be a leader and to stand up and do the things we needed to do and we have done that, whether it has been a tornado or a hurricane or a water crisis.”
The governor also is promoting an economic development win as the Mississippi Legislature passed three bills to provide nearly $250 million in economic incentives to an aluminum production facility in Lowndes County, during a one-day special session in November.
The company plans to invest $2.5 billion into the area, the largest economic development in the state’s history, and according to its agreement with the state the project will employ 1,000 people with an average salary of $93,000.
A good year for new jobs in Mississippi in 2022 could be even better in 2023.
The last numbers released from the State of Mississippi show monthly unemployment at 3.4% and yearly unemployment at 4.0%.
Mississippi employers added nearly 22,000 jobs over the course of 2022 as hiring remained sturdy despite rising interest rates, high inflation and mounting recession worries.
According to the Mississippi Department of Employment Security, the Magnolia State is slated for even more growth in 2023 with an expected 3.8% growth rate or more than 44,000 jobs to be added to the economy.
“I am particularly proud of the record investments we have made in our people through workforce development and workforce training,” Reeves said. “We told people in 2019 that we were going to see per capita incomes go up and we have seen per capita incomes go up. We told people were going to increase teacher pay, and this year I was able to sign into law the largest teacher pay raise in the history of the state.”
Reeves touted the fact that Roe v. Wade was overturned during his first term led by the efforts of a case which began in Mississippi.
Reeves also mentioned the reduction in the state’s income tax that was passed in 2022, and he said that eliminating the state’s income tax in 2023 would lead to even more wealth in Mississippi as well as economic development.
“I think it is critically important for the future of our state that we continue to return money back to the people,” Reeves said. “I believe in my heart that if we eliminate the income tax, if we make ourselves more competitive with Texas and Tennessee and Florida, what we are going to see in our state is significant growth, not only economic growth, but population growth as well. Population growth is going to all us to see GDP growth in excess of the 2.5% to 3% that I expect us to see in the coming years. Attracting more people to our state the recipe for more long-term success.”
Even with all of that, Reeves is expected to face a tough reelection fight. GOP candidates, including several who have battled him on political fronts during his first term in office, are lining up for the chance to challenge him next year.
Phillip Gunn may lead the pack for those opposing Reeves. The Republican Speaker of the House, who announced in November that he would be ending his service in the chamber after 12 years as speaker, has not publicly said what he plans to do next. In that announcement, Gunn said his time as a public servant was not over.
Bill Waller Jr. was Reeves’ primary opponent from 2019. He is a former chief justice of the Mississippi Supreme Court and son of a former Mississippi governor. Waller ran as a Republican in 2019 but following changes to the state’s election laws there has been speculation that if he were to run, he may do so as an independent.
Secretary of State Michael Watson, a Republican, left some confused in July when he showed up to the Neshoba County Fair with signs reading “Michael Watson for Mississippi.” With most other political signs at the fair listing a desired office, Watson’s left much room for speculation.
Independent three-term Vicksburg Mayor George Flaggs, Jr., a former Democratic state senator, was a close ally to Reeves in 2019, serving on the governor’s campaign finance committee. That said, Flaggs is reportedly openly considering a run as an independent, citing the same constitutional changes that many mention when talking about Waller.
Northern District Public Service Commissioner Brandon Presley is one of the state’s highest elected Democrats. A distant relative of Elvis Presley, he has served on the commission since 2008. He was previously mayor of Nettleton, and is considered a moderate Democrat, known for crossing the political aisle. Despite speculation numerous times over the years, Presley has not yet sought any office higher than the public service commission.
Despite the people that may run, Reeves said he will be running on what he believes to be a successful first term in office.
“The great thing about America is that anybody can run for anything they want to run for,” Reeves said. “I wish whomever who chooses to take that path, we will get to spend a lot of time talking about my record. It’s a record I am proud of. This is going to be a good year and I am looking forward to it.”
source: clarionledger