Small town museum, big time impact

*Appeared in the Laurel Leader-Call newspaper

Last Friday night, I enjoyed what my sister-in-law dubbed the most “quintessential summertime Southern event” on the lawn of the Lauren Rogers Museum of Art: 2021’s Blues Bash.  Filled with bluesy tunes, messy barbeque, and the picturesque backdrop of LRMA’s front porch at twilight, my Friday night could not have been more pleasant. 

It made me grateful to be from a town like Laurel, where the convergence of small-town charm and big city amenities is on full display.  You won’t be surprised to know, however, that it also got me to thinking about the cultural and economic impacts of venues like our own Lauren Rogers Museum of Art.  

 

If you’ve read my columns before, you probably recognize I’m a bit of a policy wonk who loves any sort of economic analysis.  Turns out, the American Alliance of Museums conducted one a few years ago regarding the so-called “museum effect.”  Let’s dive in, shall we?

 

One observation from the report is that museums “play an essential role in cultural and social life across the US.  They tell our stories, preserve our heritage, interpret the past, and explore the future.” 

 

I couldn’t have said it better myself.  The Museum is home to many of my favorite childhood memories.  As a kid, I stared with wonder at the miniature Choctaw woven basket that was so tiny it had to be viewed through a microscope (or that’s what I recall).  When I was a senior in high school, I visited the Museum and fell in love with William Dunlap’s works (one of his mixed media collections was on display at the time).  

 

Today I am the proud owner of Mr. Dunlap’s “Green Hills of Africa” (an artist proof pigment print with hand coloring), which resides over my fireplace…all because of an art exhibit I saw when I was eighteen years old.

 

In my professional life, I’ve used the Museum as a venue for work (for example, I coordinated an event at LRMA when former Gov. Haley Barbour released his memoirs on Katrina, “America’s Great Storm”).  From childhood to my professional career, the Museum has certainly made an impact on me. 

 

But the beauty lies in this:  My experience isn’t isolated.  So many individuals in Laurel have been introduced to artists, culture, and other educational activities through the work of the Museum.  It’s a jewel not only for the City Beautiful, but for the entire state of Mississippi.

 

Beyond the cultural impact of museums, they also positively impact bottom lines.  From the report: “…the museum sector is also essential to the national economy – generating GDP, stimulating jobs, and contributing taxes.”  Oxford Economics, which conducted the analysis on behalf of the American Alliance for Museums, found that more than 850 million visits are made to U.S. museums annually, resulting in a total economic contribution of more than $50 billion in GDP (gross domestic product), 726,200 jobs, and $12 billion in taxes to local, state, and federal governments. 

 

My own personal observation is that the Lauren Rogers Museum of Art outpunches its weight in comparison to other museums across the state.  (What can I say? I’m admittedly a bit biased.) That’s why I suggest you visit the Museum “early and often,” as they say, and consider signing up for museum membership.  It’s simple – go to www.lrma.org and click on “support.”

 

There are so many reasons to love Laurel – the live oak trees, the history, the people… but few city attributes are quite as meaningful to the culture of place as the Museum.

Legislative session a wrap

*Appeared in the Laurel Leader Call newspaper in Jones County

Last week, the Mississippi legislature wrapped up its regular session.  Lawmakers passed a balanced budget with a full savings account (or “rainy day fund”), along with modest, up-to-three percent salary increases for state employees and a $1,000 teacher pay raise – all without raising your taxes. But what else did they do? 

I would be remiss not to mention (what seemed to be) the biggest fight of the session – Speaker Gunn’s proposal to eliminate the income tax and reduce the grocery tax, while raising the sales and other tax rates. Despite garnering bipartisan support from the House, this bill died in the Senate due to lack of support from senate members. 

 

For now, Mississippians will see no reduction in their income taxes – but also, no increases, either. I say that’s a mixed bag result.  High-growth states like Texas, Florida, and Tennessee levy no income tax, and I agree with leaders like Speaker Gunn and Gov. Reeves that eliminating this tax-on-work would do more to promote our economic growth than most other legislative proposals. I don’t love the tax increases included in the Speaker’s proposal, and I’m not convinced they are necessary for passage of major tax reform…but I’d much rather pay a sales tax than an income tax.  After all, we should be encouraging more employment – not monetarily penalizing people for working.  

 

I had the chance to speak with Jones County Rep. Donnie Scoggin (Republican – District 89) about some of their accomplishments during the session. He noted passage of a transportation bill to increase weight limits on harvest loads from 84,000 to 88,000 pounds, which will ease the process of transporting commodities such as sand, gravel, dirt, and agricultural products.  This bill is particularly important to the Free State due to our large presence of poultry producers. 

 

Readers may recall Initiative 65, which paves the way for a state medical marijuana program, passed during the last general election.  However, I-65 is currently being challenged in court, so lawmakers “tried to put in place a contingency program in case the Supreme Court strikes the law down,” explained Rep. Scoggin. He said there was much confusion about legislation designed to make the medical marijuana program constitutional, and ultimately this bill died. 

 

While Rep. Scoggin is pleased with the state’s budget increasing state employee pay raises by up to three percent, he says we must do more for the state’s working poor, citing low salaries for nurses aides at Ellisville State School as an example.  

 

Occupational licensing was a big issue, and lawmakers made progress by passing legislation that allows Mississippi to reciprocate certain professional licenses from other states.  For example, if a nurse in Alabama wants to practice in Mississippi, his or her license will be recognized by Mississippi licensing authorities – so long as the state of origin has similar standards. 

 

According to Rep. Scoggin, Jones County fared well in the state’s budget and bond bill, receiving some $1.2 million for resurfacing at Howard Technology Park; $200,000 for the City of Laurel for parks and recreation; and a new fire truck for the City of Ellisville. 

 

Lawmakers’ budget work isn’t over quite yet, though.  The American Rescue Plan passed by Congress and signed into law by President Biden will provide hundreds of millions of dollars in funding to Mississippi.  Jones County and its cities are slated to collectively receive about $20 million in federal dollars under the Act, which Rep. Scoggin hopes will be used in part to fund a new law enforcement complex near the existing jail. 

 

The legislature is expected to come back later this summer to deal with these federal dollars.  Until then, Mississippians can breathe a collective sigh of relief. 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

Changing demographics, changing politics

*Appeared in the Laurel Leader Call newspaper in Jones County 

About a year and a half ago, I went with my family to eat at The Loft in the downtown district. I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw a line out the door and down the street.  

 

“But this is Laurel – sweet, sleepy, Laurel,” I thought.  As it turns out, my hometown isn’t quite so sleepy anymore. 

 

I was naïve not to understand the changing demographics of the area or just how much the City Beautiful had grown in terms of tourism and economic development.  It was a naivety I could afford, since my name isn’t on a ballot.  But politicians, take note. The changing demographics of the city, if continued, can have lasting repercussions for elected leaders in this area.  

 

Consider the following anecdotal comments from a local architect, who has seen an influx in retirees in his work.  He says the cost of living here compared to where the retirees come from makes a comfortable retirement possible for a lot of new Laurel residents.  In addition to retirees, another influence are the people growing a family. 

 

According to U.S. Census “QuickFacts,” Jones County’s population is comprised of 17.4 percent of people over 65 (as of 2019 estimates).  About five percent of the population are veterans, at roughly 3,500 citizens.  Residents drive an average of 21.7 minutes to work, and the average household size is 2.68. 

 

These are simply estimates from the Census Bureau, but it gives us a good snapshot into demographics of the Free State area.

 

Nearly one in five Jones Countians are over 65, which means retirees are – or should be – a strong voting bloc in this area.  Topics such as healthcare and pensions often take the forefront of this population’s mind, and, correspondingly, often become a platform for local leaders. 

 

Many of these particular topics resonate strongest at the federal level. The Affordable Care Act is federal, as is social security and Medicare. Seniors living in the Free State may have a renewed interest in our federal congressional elections, which happen next year. 

 

The state plays a role, albeit a smaller one, in regulating healthcare and pension plans. Mississippi is a tax-free state for retirement income, so seniors might pay increased attention to tax proposals being pushed at both the state and federal levels.

 

Young and growing families can also impact the politics of an area, with their focus on affordable housing prices, quality schools, and jobs availability.  This group is likely to be more concerned about the school rating of the Laurel or Jones County school districts than they are whether lawmakers in Jackson tax pension funding.

 

Locating in the city versus the county is a big decision for these families, and speaks to the nearly 22-minute average drive-to-work time captured by the U.S. Census data. Another bright spot on the horizon for Jones County is the impact these young families have on the local music scene. (320 Fifth Street, anyone?!) I’m pleased to say one can find live music again in Laurel, Miss.

 

One last point about Laurel’s ever-changing demographics.  “Geographic mobility” as measured by the U.S. Census tracks whether individuals live in a different house than one year ago; live in a different county than a year ago; live in a different state; and/or live in a different country. The rate for Jones County is 6.5 percent, or about half of the statewide rate.  With an influx of new residents, expect this figure to change significantly if population growth continues. 

 

On a more personal note, these days I am proud to split time between Jackson and Jones County (I bought a house in the Free State about 1.5 years ago). It’s exciting to witness the renaissance of the downtown area, as well as the economic growth outside the city limits. From newly paved streets to road construction, from live music to BBQ nachos, I welcome this Laurel transformation. 

 

What’s that sign say that welcomes you into the county on Highway 84? Laurel, Mississippi… “now this is livin’.” 

The Free State mentality: Something in the water?

*First appeared in the March 5, 2014 edition of the Laurel Chronicle

Growing up in Jones County, one becomes accustomed to references to the “Free State.” In fact, I always found the idea of a “Free State of Jones” rather appealing, indicative of a people fiercely independent yet bound by a strong sense of community.

Others might dismiss this notion as a naïve view of our rocky history or simply a face-value acceptance of overblown folklore. But, just maybe there’s something to this idea that Jones Countians suffer from some sort of predisposition to make waves – whether better or worse.

But first: What is the Free State?

That itself is a source of controversy. Legend has it that an “armed band of Confederate deserters battled Confederate cavalry in the Piney Woods region of Jones County, Mississippi. Calling themselves the Knight Company after their captain, Newton Knight, they set up headquarters in the swamps of the Leaf River, where…they declared the Free State of Jones.”

According to some accounts, Newt (I never heard him called “Newton” growing up) Knight was a complex figure who refused to fight a rich-man’s war. Some accounts say his insurrection was based solely on civil rights and an opposition to slavery; others say he was a coward who deserted his Confederate soldiers. Some say he simply didn’t want to fight over cotton.

Whether he actually tried to establish an independent state, and for what purpose, remains a point of contention.

In fact, the most recent work on this issue provided the New York Times with a bit of fodder in its book review of “The State of Jones” by Washington Post reporter and Harvard historian John Stauffer. Jenkins and Stauffer apparently ruffled the feathers of another author, Victoria Bynum (a Texas State history professor and author of “The Free State of Jones”), who claimed the duo’s latest take was “a good read but inaccurate and unjustifiably politicized.”

“There’s the rub,” explained the New York Times. “Jenkins and Stauffer create a lively narrative, but is it factual – or fictionalized?”

(My favorite component of the Times review was its highlighting of Bynum’s critique of the new book...in a heated online forum exchange. The internet wins again!)

In the 21st century, Jones Countians continue the historical trend of making waves. Take, for example, Rep. Omeria Scott’s legislative proposal that would have required merchants who sell ammunition to keep detailed records open for public inspection at any time. These records include names, home addresses, driver’s license numbers, and even social security numbers.

The amendment failed, but not without first causing backlash from folks in Jackson and elsewhere.

Well-known writer Bobby Harrison of the Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal has Jones County roots (near the Shady Grove area, I think). He’s a genuinely nice guy but often irks conservatives with columns that tend to favor more left-leaning policies.

Rickey Cole (I’ve written about him in this space before) is executive director of the Mississippi Democrats, a group that continues to raise the political stakes. While I’m sure Rickey is a fine fellow, his public statements and emails indicate an aggressive spirit.

“Sixty-seven years is long enough” proclaimed Rickey in one email to supporters, urging supporters to elect a Mississippi Democrat to the U.S. Senate. He has called Gov. Phil Bryant “aloof” in an email titled “Outrageous Incompetence.” You get the idea.

Even Jones County native and state senator Chris McDaniel has raised more than a few eyebrows by waging a primary challenge against incumbent Republican U.S. Senator Thad Cochran…despite telling crowds in October that Cochran is a man he “grew up” admiring and respecting.

I’m not sure about the legitimacy of the Free State tale, but I do know this: People from Jones County have a provocative spirit. Maybe we inherit Free State mentalities from our parents, or maybe it’s just something in the Bogue Homa waters.

Jackson comes to Jones: Lt. Gov, Speaker visit the Free State

*First appeared in the Oct. 10, 2013, edition of the Laurel Chronicle.

This week, Jones County will be visited by two of the state’s top officials: Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves and Speaker of the House Philip Gunn.

By the time you read this column, Reeves will have already spoken to the Jones County Republican Women during their monthly meeting at Western Sizzlin’. Gunn, on the other hand, is scheduled to stop at Laurel’s Train Depot at 8 a.m. this morning as part of his “Mississippi Solutions: An Ideas Tour.”

I first met now-Lt. Gov. Reeves while on the campaign trail in 2003, during which time he and his affable wife Elee spent hours upon hours politicking at festivals, fish-fries, county fairs – you get the idea – to convince voters that Tate (as he introduces himself) was the best choice for treasurer. To stick with the treasurer motif, I’d say they got a pretty darn good return on their investment.

Tate was elected as the first Republican treasurer in the state’s history; just four years later, he would be re-elected with 61 percent of the vote – the highest percentage of any candidate running for statewide office. (In Jones County alone, Tate garnered more than 68%.) Mississippians got to know Tate and his work ethic, and they liked what they saw.

Today this same work ethic has translated into his becoming a legislative force as the state’s Lt. Gov., with successes under his belt including balancing the state’s budget while increasing funding for education; reducing taxpayers’ overall debt burden; implementing education reforms like school district consolidation and the creation of public charter schools; and steering passage of business-friendly tax initiatives like the practical elimination of the state’s inventory tax and the Attorney General “Sunshine Act.”

Last month, the Lt. Gov. announced he would host the Mississippi Education Symposium in Tupelo alongside former U.S. Secretary of Education Dr. William Bennett (you may recall my previous column on Dr. Bennett’s book, “Is College Worth It?”). While many reforms have been adopted, events like this make it clear that Reeves won’t rest on his educational laurels just yet.

Let’s switch to the leader of the other house – the people’s house, as they say – Speaker Philip Gunn (note: only one “L”). I first met Speaker Gunn when I ran around the Capitol trying to push the agenda of the Governor’s Office, and then-Rep. Gunn was nice enough to take my calls. Because he is, as is often said, one of the nicest guys on the Capitol grounds.

First elected to the House of Representatives in 2004, Gunn has the natural disposition of a leader. When Republicans held no leadership positions under Democrat Speaker Billy McCoy's regime, Gunn found himself at the helm of the House Republican Conference, a group which organized the Republicans for the first time in modern history.

Gunn is a devout Christian, and his faith has helped him overcome even those events that are unimaginable to most of us. When he was in college, Gunn’s parents and sister were killed by a drunk driver. But, as columnist Sid Salter once wrote, “rather than embittering him, [Gunn’s] life experiences seem to have forged a man who values family, friends and community.” I have certainly found that to be true.

Gunn has shown bipartisanship in making appointments, giving both Democrats and Republicans coveted chairmanships. Even his “Ideas Tour,” as described in an official press release, reflects this mentality: The Tour is a “non-partisan town hall style series of meetings…a forum for all Legislators, citizens and the press to attend.”

To date, Gunn’s legislative accomplishments include playing a key role in passing a child protection act, a new voter identification law, and passing a conservative budget that doesn’t raise taxes on Mississippians. In his first year as Speaker, the Legislature ended its work early, saving hundreds of thousands in taxpayer dollars.

Together, the Lt. Gov. and Speaker make a dynamic team, working side by side to pass conservative legislation in the best interests of Mississippians. While each man has his own unique manner of governing, we must not forget that legislative successes are shared between the two chambers. After all, in order to become law, bills must pass both the Senate under the watchful eye of Lt. Gov. Reeves and the House under the steady hand of Speaker Gunn. Jones Countians – and all Mississippians – should be proud of the work these two leaders have accomplished since assuming their leadership positions almost three years ago

Top political movers and playmakers have Jones County roots

*First appeared in Laurel Chronicle on June 13, 2013.

Growing up in Jones County, I often found myself cruising down Old Bay, watching plays at the Laurel Little Theatre, or enjoying a milkshake at the still-delicious P.D.I.’s. Early on in the Free State, I learned about how our neck of the woods contributed to a state, regional, and global impact – from companies like Sanderson Farms, the third largest poultry producer in the United States, to Howard Industries, one of the world’s largest manufacturers of distribution transformers.

What I didn’t realize, however, is that our county’s footprint went beyond these corporate giants. In fact, Jones Countians can also take pride in the Pine Belt’s impact on the state’s political class.

Rickey Cole, the head of the Mississippi Democratic Party, hails from Ovett. A candidate for state agriculture commissioner in 2007, Cole has been involved in more than 20 Democratic political campaigns since 1982. Splitting his time between Ovett, where he still helps manage the family farm, and Jackson, where he serves as a consultant with the Eaves law firm, Cole has a long history of Democratic activism across the state. His contributions to the Democratic Party haven’t gone unnoticed, as he is currently in his second term as chairman of the Democratic Party.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, Mississippi Republican Party chairman Joe Nosef has Laurel roots as his wife, former Amy Wallace, grew up here. (Heard of Wallace Drugs? Of course you have. That’s the same family.) Years ago, Joe and I worked together as part of Governor Haley Barbour’s Office. We’d often discuss Laurel – its charming downtown and oak-lined historic district – since he had spent considerable time here with Amy. Although Nosef is a Clarksdale native, he embraced the uniqueness of our city beautiful and our Free State.

Speaking of Jones County Republicans, one of the state’s most well-known political families is from within our borders: The Pickerings. Located in the West Jones area, this family has produced household names in Mississippi politics. Let’s start with retired federal judge Charles Pickering, whose record of involvement in public service is lengthy. He has served in virtually all levels of government – from municipal to federal. A former municipal judge, Pickering also served in the Mississippi State Senate. In the 1970s, Pickering was chairman of the Mississippi Republican Party and was later appointed by the first President Bush to a federal judgeship.

His appointment in 2001 by President George W. Bush to serve on the Fifth Circuit would not come without controversy. Senate Democrats made national headlines when they chose to filibuster this Bush appointee on the grounds of his stance on abortion, as well as unsubstantiated claims that Pickering sympathized with racists. I should note that Charles Evers, brother of slain civil rights activist Medgar Evers (whose slaying occurred 50 years ago this week), openly supported Pickering’s nomination, along with other notable civil rights leaders. Ultimately, Pickering chose to withdraw his nomination, thus ending the filibuster debacle.

(Speaking of Judge Pickering, let’s not forget one of his former law partners, Carrol Gartin. You’ll probably recognize that name from the widely-used road in the city known as Carrol Gartin Boulevard. A Democrat, Gartin is a Laurel native who served three terms as Mississippi’s Lieutenant Governor during the 1950s and early 1960s.)

Judge Pickering’s son has also played on the national stage as a former member of the United States House of Representatives. Congressman Chip Pickering graduated from R.H. Watkins High School and attended college at both Ole Miss and Baylor University. He served as a member of former Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott’s staff before staging his own successful congressional campaign in 1997. In 2008, the Laurel native opted to return to Mississippi to pursue a career in the private sector.

Nephew to Judge Pickering is Stacey Pickering, whom most of Laurel knows as “neighbor” and the rest of the state knows as State Auditor. Prior to his election as State Auditor, Pickering served in the state senate, like his uncle before him. Pickering graduated from West Jones High School and attended both Jones County Junior College as well as Samford University. He earned a Master’s Degree from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. He and his wife, Whitney, still live in Laurel with their four children.

From political party leaders to state senators; from federal judges to congressmen, Jones County natives have made a big impact on the state of Mississippi politics. So the next time you’re thinking about all the great things our county has to offer - from its charm to its corporate giants – I encourage you to consider the political side of our Free State.