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The candidates include Madison businessman David Landrum, former Pickering aide John Rounsaville, Flowood resident James Broadwater, and former state Sen. Charlie Ross.
In all, party records show seven Republicans are seeking the seat, as well as two Democrats.
Brad White, executive director of the Mississippi Republican Party, said this year’s race has garnered more interest than usual because of the open seat. He expects voter turnout to be higher than usual as well, because voters will be voting for president and a new senator to fill former Sen. Trent Lott’s seat.
Regardless of who prevails, White said it’s important for the Republicans to hold on to the seat. “Obviously the issues facing us today are different than in 1996,” he said. “We need to elect someone who shares our values.”
Each of the candidates spoken to by the Northisde Sun recently touted their experience and their readiness to take on the job. The candidates interviewed also support similar issues, such as preserving right to life issues, protecting gun rights and traditional marriage. If elected, many said they would also take a tough stance on immigration and work to lower taxes.
John Rounsaville has worked in state and federal government for a decade, first as a staffer for Pickering and later as an advisor to Gov. Haley Barbour. He was also appointed by President George W. Bush to serve as state director for the United States Department of Agriculture Rural Development program.
IN A NATIONAL presidential election where the leading candidates are claiming they’re the candidate for change, Rounsaville said residents in District Three prefer a leader who can begin work on the first day.
“I think my experience will help,” he said. “People want to be assured that they will have a conservative congressman who represents their views and someone who knows the process (to get things accomplished in Washington, D.C.).”
Rounsaville, who is the youngest candidate seeking the post, said the issues that residents care about most include enforcing immigration laws and increasing fiscal responsibility.
“Spending is out of control,” he said. “People expect something to be done.”
District Three stretches across the state from the Mississippi River to just north of Starkville. It includes McComb, Meridian, and parts of Madison County and Jackson.
Broadwater, Ross, and another candidate, Harper, potentially could split the Rankin County vote. Ross and Broadwater say both hope to pull the majority of votes from the county, one of the most populous counties in the third district
According to the Federal Election Commission Web site, reports show Landrum leads the fund-raising contest among Northsiders, with more than $519,000 in contributions. Rounsaville has brought in nearly $146,000, and Ross has raised $117,000. Broadwater didn’t file a report.
Other Republicans seeking the post include Pearl resident Gregg Harper, and Meridian residents Gregory Hatcher and William “Bill” Marcy. The Democratic ticket includes Oktibbeha resident Randy Eads and Holmes County resident Joel L. Gill.
Landrum couldn’t be reached by the Northside Sun for comment.
Kell Smith, communications director for the Charlie Ross campaign, said the former Mississippi state senator and his election team are hard at work campaigning for the post. The senator has recently attended several town hall meetings to answer voters’ questions and his staff members and voluteers are going door-to-door to pass out information.
“Campaigning is going really well,” he said. “We’re out visiting folks in the district and we’re very excited.”
He said Ross, a former candidate for lieutenant governor, has an edge over the other candidates. Unlike the others, he has experience running a statewide campaign and has name recognition in all 82 counties.
SMITH SAID ROSS also has a strong record as a conservative senator and would be the best fit to fill the position vacated by Pickering. While in office, Ross authored a bill for tort reform and a bill to prohibit sex offenders from living near schools.
Ross attended the United States Air Force Academy and served in Operation Desert Storm. He most recently represented the area in the Mississippi state Senate. He hopes to strengthen the military and secure the borders.
Ross, though, has a tough battle ahead. In the 2007 race for lieutenant governor, he was criticized for negatively campaigning against fellow Rankin County native Phil Bryant, who later won the nomination and the race. Smith wasn’t on that campaign. “We’re focusing on the campaign we’re running now,” he said.
Again, Ross is running against two Rankin County residents, James Broadwater and Pearl attorney Gregg Harper.
Andy Taggart, a former Madison County supervisor, recently spoke about the race at the North Jackson Lion’s Club. The former elected official didn’t endorse any candidate at the meeting, but he did handicap those running.
Taggart, who is no stranger to state politics himself, was a former chief of staff for Gov. Kirk Fordice. He expects the race will lead to a runoff and that almost any candidate elected will serve the district well.
“It’s hard to handicap the race,” he said. “All of the candidates have strengths. All have challenges.”
Flowood resident James Broadwater perhaps has the toughest climb in the race for Congress. The Republican hasn’t brought in the contributions that other candidates have. Despite that, he isn’t daunted.
THE FOUR-YEAR state employee hopes to “bring America back to Christianity and its religious heritage,” he said. “We have a duty to bring it back.” He hopes to get his message to the voters by running a grass-roots campaign - knocking on doors and participating in debates. “I’ll leave it up to the voters to make the decision,” he said. The Flowood resident has worked for the state for four years and has served as a Baptist minister for 13. He’s also been active in several right to life movements.
He said he would support a federal marriage amendment and an amendment banning partial-birth abortions. He earned an associate degree at Mississippi Delta Community College and a bachelor’s at the University of Southern Mississippi. He earned a master’s of divinity at Golden Gate Baptist Seminary in California.
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