Two Mississippi legislators are now running for mayor in their respective towns.
House Rules Committee Chairman Fred Shanks, a Republican, qualified Thursday to run for mayor of Brandon, less than 20 miles outside of Jackson, the state’s capital.
According to the City of Brandon City Clerk’s Office on Friday, only Shanks and Mayor Butch Lee have qualified for the race. Lee is currently serving his third term.
Shanks has been in a House member since 2018.
“I will take my statewide rolodex and legislative skill set and apply those to the office of Mayor,” Shanks said in a post on Facebook Friday morning. “My plan is to immediately work on the public works department, take a deep dive into current project list as well as current contracts.”
In 2024, Sen. John Horhn, D-Jackson, announced he would run for mayor in Jackson. He himself will face several opponents, including incumbent Mayor Choke Antar Lumumba, a Democrat.
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U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker, a Republican from Tupelo, was officially tapped by Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-South Dakota, in late December to lead the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee. On Dec. 21, Thune released his list of committee assignments.
As the most senior committee member of the majority party, Wicker is up for its leadership. By formally placing his name on the committee appointments, it practically seals the deal for Wicker’s rise.
Wicker will also continue to serve on the Commerce, Environment and Public Works, and Rules committees. Wicker has served in the Senate since 2007, and he recently won a reelection bid against Democratic Challenger Ty Pinkins.
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His counterpart in the Senate, Cindy Hyde Smith, R-Miss., will be on the Senate Rules, Appropriations, Agriculture and Energy committees.
Grant McLaughlin covers the Legislature and state government for the Clarion Ledger. He can be reached at gmclaughlin@gannett.com or 972-571-2335.
