"I was born into a poor, hardworking family. My dad worked in the oilfield and my mom worked wherever she could to help make ends meet, including being a truck driver. I learned strong discipline and work ethic also working all jobs from paperboy to janitor, and carpenter to landscaping. I graduated from public high school and then drove a truck before joining the US Army and seeing more of the world than I ever thought possible. After active duty, I enrolled in and worked nights and weekends to pay my way through a small college in Thibodaux, Louisiana named Nicholls.
Following college, I managed a restaurant until I started law school at Ole Miss. There I met a beautiful Natchez girl that I later married and just celebrated our 25th anniversary, and still call where we met "home." We have a daughter who is a senior in high school, and a rescue dog that is as much a part of our family and anyone else. My adult life has been filled with various jobs and life lessons, community and church service, and, simply doing the best I can to honor the lessons and legacy my parent left with me.
I believe in working hard, doing right, and helping others, particularly those who are the least among us (Matthew 25:40). I am the sum of my life experiences, which includes successes and failures, pain and happiness, and many scars and bruises. Having gone from poor to a successful business owner, I truly understand real problems and real people.
know what it is like to be hungry at night, and the paycheck to run out before the end of a week, and pawning something just to be able to keep the lights on. It helps keep me real as I consider policy and understand that there are far too many Mississippians out there every single day still suff3ring these realities."
Why are you running for Lt. Governor?
"I'm authentic, transparent and tireless. I'm running for Lt. Governor because I want to selflessly serve and leave a lasting mark on improving life for all Mississippians. I believe that starts with public education. My entire life has been because of and about public education, schools that take in every student and offer them each the opportunity to be the best they can be and, in turn, be a part of the community and future. All of the rankings where Mississippi is near the bottom, they could move the needle by the quality education of ALL students.
We should be providing the same quality educational resources to all children and reducing the emphasis on standardized testing. As the leader of the Senate changes like this can happen, and that is what I am committed to. As a military veteran, I am committed to democracy and transparency and would make sure that is brought back to the capitol.
My business and personal experiences are what give me strength and the ability to use those lessons and business sense to manage budgets and guide policy in an efficient manner that provides the maximum benefit for all core governmental services, and in all 82 counties instead of a few lucky ones."
