This year's political speaking slate reflects the ongoing 2010 midterm congressional elections along with a full slate of speeches from statewide elected officials who are already jockeying for position in the 2011 statewide elections.
Lt. Gov. Phil Bryant is actively committed to a 2011 Republican gubernatorial campaign. Agriculture Commissioner Lester Spell has already announced his intentions not to seek re-election. Attorney General Jim Hood and Insurance Commissioner Mike Chaney have said they will both seek re-election. Gov. Haley Barbour is term-limited.
State Auditor Stacey Pickering has made clear his intention to run for lieutenant governor - and State Treasurer Tate Reeves has raised a sizeable campaign war chest but has yet to formally announce his intentions for 2011. Neither has Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann - but Hosemann is also believed to be considering a bid for higher office.
All those realities should make for an interesting week of politicking at the state's premier political stump. The speaking schedule is as follows:
WEDNESDAY, JULY 28
9 a.m. - District Attorney Mark Duncan (D), 8th Circuit Court District.
9:10 a.m. - Jes Smith, candidate for 8th District Circuit Court judge, Place II.
9:20 a.m. - 8th District Circuit Judge Vernon Cotton, Place II.
9:30 a.m. - 8th District Circuit Judge Marcus Gordon, Place I.
9:40 a.m. - 6th District Chancery Judge Joseph D. Kilgore, Place I.
9:50 a.m. - Billy Nicholson (R), state representative, District 78
10 a.m. - District 44 State Rep. C. Scott Bounds (R).
10:10 a.m. - District 18 State Sen. Giles Ward (R).
10:20 a.m. - Central District Transportation Commissioner Dick Hall (R).
10:30 a.m. - Central District Public Service Commissioner Lynn Posey (D).
10:40 a.m. - State Auditor Stacey Pickering (R).
10:50 a.m. - Attorney General Jim Hood (D).
1 p.m. - Alan Nunnelee (R) candidate for 1st District U.S. rep.
1:10 p.m. - A.G. Baddley, independent candidate for 1st District U.S. rep.
1:20 p.m. - Barbara Dale Washer, Reform Party candidate for 1st District U.S. rep.
1:30 p.m. - Wally Pang, independent candidate for 1st District U.S. rep.
1:40 p.m. - Gail Giaramita, Constitution Party candidate for 1st District U.S. rep.
1:50 p.m. - Les Green, Independent candidate for 1st District U.S. rep.
THURSDAY, JULY 29
9 a.m. - Bill Marcy (R), candidate for 2nd District U.S. rep.
9:20 a.m. - Joel Gill (D), candidate for 3rd District U.S. rep.
9:30 a.m. - Kenneth Tim Hampton, Libertarian Party candidate for 4th District U.S. rep.
9:40 a.m. - Steven Palazzo (R), candidate for 4th District U.S. rep.
10 a.m. - State Supreme Court Chief Justice Bill Waller Jr.
10:10 a.m. - Insurance Commissioner Mike Chaney (R).
10:20 a.m. - Agriculture Commissioner Lester Spell (R).
10:30 a.m. - State Treasurer Tate Reeves (R).
10:40 a.m. - Secretary of State Delbert Hoseman (R).
10:50 a.m. - Lt. Gov. Phil Bryant (R).
11 a.m. - Gov. Haley Barbour (R).
Contact Perspective Editor Sid Salter at (601) 961-7084 or e-mail ssalter@clarionledger.com. Visit his blog at clarionledger.com. His talk radio show, On Deadline with Sid Salter, is broadcast on the SuperTalk Mississippi network.
