When House District 102 candidate Missy McGee is asked how she describes herself, she replies, “lifelong Hattiesburg resident.” The distinction is important to her.
“I am coming from deep, lifelong Hattiesburg roots,” she said after announcing her candidacy for the post vacated by new Hattiesburg Mayor Toby Barker. “District 102 is so dear to me because this is truly the area that I know the best – right here on Hardy Street, right in The Avenues, all that area is where I spent my life. I feel like I know this district; it’s been a part of me forever.”
McGee is one of at least four candidates who have announced to run for the position, all as independent candidates. The other candidates include state retiree Casey Mercier, social worker Kathryn Rehner and attorney Cory Ferraez. The qualifying deadline is Monday.
Gov. Phil Bryant called the Sept. 19 special election to fill the vacant House seat, which includes Forrest and Lamar counties. If necessary, a runoff election will be Oct. 3.
McGee, who worked on Barker’s campaigns for both the state House and Hattiesburg mayor, believes serving in the Legislature helps her contribute to the success of Hattiesburg.
“I do think it is very important to address the issues that come from the state level, what are city issues and what can partner together on,” she said. “I am talking to as many people as I can who can help me understand those answers. What I feel really excited about now is that I think there is a great new excitement and enthusiasm in Hattiesburg right now. I feel that if I were elected to the District 102 position, I could work with the folks. I think there is just a lot of cooperation and just a lot of excitement to work in a cooperative way to really advance Hattiesburg to that next step. “
Getting everything lined up for her House campaign has been hectic, McGee said.
For me, it was a rush because we worked hard on Toby Barker’s campaign,” she said. “It was the sole focus. So when obviously he won and he had to vacate his position and as the weeks followed after we knew Toby would have to resign, I kind of waited to see who would run.”
McGee certainly has the experience to know how to run an election.
“I was on (Barker’s)” campaign committee for both of his elections,” she said. “But certainly in his last election, I felt I was more involved in the day-to-day operations and understood what it took. I am fortunate that I have a lot of good people helping me.”
McGee said keeping Hattiesburg business-friendly is important.
“I feel you have to support small businesses, you have to encourage folks to start a business and hope that folks will come and take a chance to start a business,” she said. “For current businesses, I think we have to continue to protect them so they can be prosperous They cannot only be successful themselves, but they can take care of the employees, pay them good wages and be able to provide good benefits.”
Because Hattiesburg is at the epicenter of District 102 and the University of Southern Mississippi is one of the city’s pillars, McGee – a USM alumna and former educator – said the university should receive the notice it deserves.
“I want to make sure that Southern Miss can get as much funding as it can,” she said. “There are a couple of line items that we need to keep for the university. It is so critically important to this entire area.”
Members of the Mississippi House of Representatives serve four-year terms and are not subject to term limits. Mississippi legislators assume office the first day of the regular session of the year after their election. The Constitution requires the Legislature to convene yearly on the Tuesday after the first Monday in January.
In order to run for the Mississippi House of Representatives, a candidate must be at least 21 years old, a qualified elector and resident of the State of Mississippi for four years and a resident of the county or district a candidate plans to represent for two years.
Candidates are required to submit 50 signatures to the Circuit Clerk or the Secretary of State in order to qualify.
Other special elections will be held in District 108 in Pearl River County to succeed Republican Mark Formby of Picayune, District 38 in Clay, Lowndes and Oktibbeha counties to replace Democrat Tyrone Ellis of Starkville, who retired; and District 54 in Issaquena, Warren and Yazoo counties to replace Republican Rep. Alex Monsour, who left to become a Vicksburg alderman.
