Delbert Hosemann, a Republican candidate for the Mississippi Secretary of State’s Office, was campaigning in Laurel this week for what he hopes will be his new job.
If the name sounds familiar to people in Jones County, it is probably because Hosemann ran unsuccessfully for the state’s Fourth Congressional District’s seat in the U.S. House of Representatives in 1998. He is predicting a better result this time around, though.
“We have more donations than all the Democrat and Republican candidates (for Secretary of State) put together,” Hosemann said during a meeting with the Laurel Leader-Call editorial board. “I’ve been pretty humbled by the amount of people who remember me from eight years ago.”
Hosemann said he strongly supports U.S. District Judge Allen Pepper’s recent decision requiring Mississippi to have a voter identification program.
“This is probably the biggest change in voting since the 1965 civil rights decision if this stands,” Hosemann said. According to Hosemann, the security of the election process could be called into question without requiring a photo identification.
The challenge will be getting photographic identification to the people who do not have a driver’s license or student identification, according to Hosemann.
“My proposal is going to be to go to every county with a photographic device and go to the senior citizens homes and go to the churches and go everywhere that anybody who may not have a driver’s license may be,” Hosemann said. “It’s going to be costly, but I think it’s worth it.”
Hosemann also has some goals besides a voter identification program. The first involves Mississippi’s 16th Section lands.
“We received $51 million in revenue from (16th Section lands) in 2005. Nobody has a list of what those (lands are leased for). It’s not public. Within the first 90 days I’m going to publish that list.”
He also wants to publish a list for what was paid for timber sales on 16th Section lands. Around $17 million of the $51 million in revenue was from timber sales, according to Hosemann.
Additionally, Hosemann wants to form a committee to rewrite the state’s business code. “We can have the best business code in the country, and there’s no reason we can’t all focus on it,” Hosemann said.
He hopes to create a business court system for the state as well. “You can’t get a trial date for three or four years now,” Hosemann said. “Business doesn’t operate like that anymore.”
Hosemann said not only will a business court move business cases along faster but will also free up circuit courts for tort and criminal cases.
Local News
Related Photos
Hosemann campaigns for Secretary of State
- Local News
-
-
Arrest made in bomb threat
A 19-year-old Jones County Junior College student was arrested Tuesday in connection with a bomb threat to a building on the school’s campus earlier in the day.
-
City council votes 5-1 to restrict transient vendors
With little discussion, the Laurel City Council voted to put restrictions on transient vendors operating in the city and to change the grade level of the city’s building inspector.
-
Aspiring to greatness
The Rev. Leander Bridges was the keynote speaker at Jones County Junior College’s Black History Program Tuesday.
-
JCJC’s student health fair focusing on prevention
Jones County Junior College students recently had the opportunity to discover the true meaning of Benjamin Franklin’s motto, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” at the college’s Student Health Fair. Hundreds of students took advantage of the opportunity to learn about a wide range of topics including behavioral problems, nutrition, fitness, and foot care.
-
Arbor Day set for Feb. 10
The City of Laurel is recognizing Arbor Day and Laurel Mayor Melvin Mack has proclaimed Friday, Feb. 10th, as Arbor Day in the City of Laurel.
-
Zoo owners ask judge to return animals
The owners of the Collins Zoo have asked a judge to return 11 animals seized by state wildlife officers in January.
-
Several injured in separate 84 East wrecks
The jaws of life were used at about 4:55 p.m. Saturday to free victims of a two-vehicle accident on Highway 84 East, the second serious accident in that area in two days.
-
Animal cruelty case under investigation
Officials are continuing to investigate a case where several animals were seized last week from a home in the Beat Four Community of Wayne County.
-
Piazza becomes city’s Public Defender
In a special ceremony last week at Laurel City Hall, local attorney John Piazza was sworn in as the City of Laurel Public Defender.
-
Jasper County officials work to make upgrades at fire station, voting precinct
Jasper County officials are continuing to work to make improvements at one of the county’s fire stations and voting precincts.
- More Local News Headlines
-
White House Attacks Romney on Birth Control
Homs Bombardment Continues, Global Outcry Grows
Mo. Teen Gets Life Sentence for Killing Girl, 9
Lower-hassle Screening to Be Tested at Airports
Raw Video: Dog Rescued From Icy Colo. Water
Helmet Camera Captures Calif. Fire Rescue
Worker Tells 911: Powell 'exploded the House'
Triple Win: Santorum Takes Minn., Mo., Colo.
Injured Marine Inspired by Homecoming
No Rape Charges Against Son of NYPD Commissioner
Egypt's Ruling Generals Play Risky Game With US
Former Komen Exec Defends Funding Cut
Skip the Coffee Cup and Inhale Your Caffeine Fix
Calif. Gay Marriage Ban Ruled Unconstitutional
Jury Selection for Ex-UVa Athlete Enters 2nd Day
Cab Driver Helps Wis. Family Escape House Fire
Staff Removed at LA School During Abuse Probe
Runaway Goat Leads Police on Wild Chase
