Lord Protector Phil Bryant issued the following statement.
Governor Phil Bryant Announces Appointment of Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce
Cindy Hyde-Smith to U.S. Senate
BROOKHAVEN, Miss. — Gov. Phil Bryant announced today that he will appoint Mississippi Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce Cindy Hyde-Smith to the United States Senate. Commissioner Hyde-Smith will replace Sen. Thad Cochran, who is retiring after nearly 50 years of service to the state of Mississippi.
Commissioner Hyde-Smith’s appointment will be effective on April 2.
“Commissioner Hyde-Smith has worked tirelessly on behalf of the men and women in agriculture, Mississippi’s largest industry and a treasured way of life in our state,” Gov. Bryant said. “Her intellect, compassion, toughness and determination to get things done exemplify everything Mississippi needs in the United States Senate. I know she will continue to faithfully serve every Mississippian in her new role.”
Commissioner Hyde-Smith was elected commissioner of agriculture and commerce by Mississippi voters in November 2011, following a 12-year career as a state senator representing District 39. With her election, Commissioner Hyde-Smith made Mississippi history as the first woman to ever be elected to the statewide position.
“I am truly humbled and honored that Governor Phil Bryant has asked me to serve as your next U.S. Senator. I am eager and excited to get to Washington to begin work on issues that are important to every Mississippian. I am extremely grateful for the work of Senator Thad Cochran. His contributions to the state of Mississippi have been invaluable,” Commissioner Hyde-Smith said.
Elected to the Mississippi State Senate in 1999, Commissioner Hyde-Smith quickly became known as a passionate advocate of farmers and ranchers in Mississippi, serving as chairwoman of the Agriculture Committee for eight years and as an influential member of numerous other committees. She has authored legislation and supported efforts to promote and protect all facets of the agriculture industry, defending private property rights, endorsing right-to-farm legislation, and working to increase country-of-origin labeling requirements.
Commissioner Hyde-Smith successfully advocated for USDA inspection of catfish to ensure food safety and equity in the marketplace and secured funding for investments in infrastructure to generate economic activity. Through her leadership roles as President of the Southern Association of States Departments of Agriculture and the Southern US Trade Association, Commissioner Hyde-Smith has been on the forefront of national and regional issues impacting agriculture. Her service as the Co-chairman of the Agriculture Policy Advisory Council for President Donald Trump has been instrumental in ensuring Mississippi farmers and ranchers a voice during key decision making.
“I hope colleagues will join me in welcoming Cindy Hyde-Smith, who will join us in the Senate in April,” U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Kentucky, said. “Gov. Bryant made an excellent choice to serve the people of Mississippi in the United States Senate. Commissioner Hyde-Smith has had a long outstanding career of public service in Mississippi, first in the state senate and most recently as the first female Commissioner for Agriculture and Commerce. She will also make history here in Washington as Mississippi’s first female U.S. Senator. We’ve got important work to do for the American people and are eager for her to join us here in the Senate.”
Commissioner Hyde-Smith has received numerous awards and honors for her exemplary leadership, including the Distinguished Service Award, Agriculture Legislator of the Year and Agriculture Ambassador of the Year from the Mississippi Farm Bureau and was named a 2017 Women in Leadership Honoree from the Governing Institute.
She is a graduate of Copiah-Lincoln Community College and the University of Southern Mississippi.
Commissioner Hyde-Smith and her husband Mike are the proud parents of Anna-Michael, the family’s fifth generation farmer. Together, they raise beef cattle and are partners in Lincoln County Livestock, the local stockyard auction market in Brookhaven, which has held a live cattle auction every Tuesday since 1942. She and her family reside in Brookhaven and are active members of Macedonia Baptist Church.
37 comments:
SPOONER For SENATE
What's with weird text boxes? Seeing it on iPhone and computer.
Certainly not my choice and if nothing else I wish she weren't Baptist, but she has my support at least until November. (Couldn't Phil have at least appointed a fellow Methodist?)
This is great news for Chris. I almost wonder if Feel doesn't secretly want Chris to win, but he's afraid to show his true feelings because it would cost him politically.
SNAFU!
I am totally disgusted!! Why?!? What in her past indicates her qualifications for this?
I guess we should thank Phil for making sure that Mississippi continues to lag behind every other state. The Mississippi Republican Party can't get anything right. Everyone should practice saying "Senator Espy" so that we are ready in November.
About the time she's sworn in, China will put a tariff on soybeans. Will she stand up for the farmers against Trump?
Well, I'm 75 years old and for the first time in my adult life I'm going to vote for a Democrat. "Senator" Espy doesn't sound bad at all.
I have nothing against the Lady Commissioner but she would have been better off to stay out of this mess.
SENATOR ESPY, let me know and I will put a sign in my yard and at my business. I know you will do a good job as I worked with you on a Board of Directors just a few years ago.
Phil has basically done nothing during his term but "occupy" the office of Governor. For the first time, he faced an important decision that affects our entire state. And, this is the best he could do. Thank goodness, our state has not faced major challenges during his term that require leadership and decision making. Let us pray that we will not face any challenges for the rest of his term. This is a sad day for Mississippi.
Maybe we can take this opportunity to do away with that unwarranted agriculture position much like that land commissioner position which was deemed unnecessary about 40 years ago.
"With her election, Commissioner Hyde-Smith made Mississippi history as the first woman to ever be elected to the statewide position."
Thought that was Evelyn Gandy?
to 1:44pm....... you don't know much about how politics work , do you?????????
3:14, the key word in the statement is "THE". Gandy was indeed the first woman elected to any statewide position, Hyde-Smith was the first woman elected as the Agriculture Commissioner.
Correct, Merck, my cousin Evelyn was the first woman elected to a statewide office in Mississippi, though there have been others first. The wording you quote from the statement is poor/weak and should have read "to the statewide position of U.S. Senator" or "to Congress".
I will be supporting Espy but felt a little sorry for her today when the White House leaked the story that Trump will not support or campaign for her (and the poll showing her running a weak 3rd) just as the announcement was being made. That was very petty and typical of Trump and was a signal to Trump voters they can vote for McDaniel. Behind the scenes the GOP sees Espy as the only hope to stop McDaniel.
Remind me again why we're all supposed to hate McDaniel.
Gads, so many snarky complainers...PMS rules these once hallowed pages...
@6:17 because the political police state that is the MSGOP says you must hate anyone who doesn't pay blind allegiance to their "leaders" and diktats. If you want to know who else to hate besides McDaniel just listen to their radio sycophant Paul Galtelli.
I sure hope that that Hide-Smith doesn't buy an ad on JJ, because then we will be prohbited from criticizing her.
Green Acres goes to Washington. This should be fun (for other states that enjoy poking fun at us).
5:50 I suspect Trump got burned by supporting the recent losers in Alabama and southwestern PA, and doesn't want to be attached to her when she inevitably loses. He is learning how to be a politician after a very rough start, and wants to remain being seen as a winner. I'm sure the White House feels Bryant is as stupid and dangerous to the party as many of us in MS do. The GOP seems like they are trying to lose as many seats as possible this fall.
Her qualification: she hired Josh Gregory last week.
Espy will get the 40% black and brown vote. Can he get 10% of the white vote.
To quote the philosopher Laramy Tunsil, "I gonna say yeah."
Tunsil comment for the win! Ehr uh.
Sorry to correct, but Evelyn Gandy, though a great lady and public servant, was NOT the first woman elected statewide in Mississippi. The historic trailblazer in fact was NELLAH MASSEY BAILEY, widow of the late Governor Tom Bailey, who was elected state tax collector in 1947, and re-elected in 1951 and 1955. Mrs. Bailey’s portrait may be seen handing in the First Ladies’ Gallery at the old Capitol.
http://www.mdah.ms.gov/timeline/zone/1947/
A prediction from someone with no dog in the hunt. Smith will ride the rural and women's vote into the runoff with Espy, which she will win handily win.
@Politico,
I agree with your prediction. Smith will win.
But let me ask a question on an alternative scenario.
Who would win a Espy-McDaniel runoff?
The reputation of Mississippi is safe. Go Pheeeeel!
The nice Lady will not stand a chance against Espy. I'm a life long Republican and my vote goes to Espy.
Only one thing I ask of Espy....please cut your ties to Morgan & Morgan.
"GOOD LUCK SENATOR ESPY."
So sending a democrat to Washington is how you deal with Bryant not putting up a strong enough candidate? You people are backwards if you think sending anybody with a D in front of their name is somehow "a good idea". Get over your grief, and realize that Espy has no chance against any warm body with an R in front of their name.
Who is this woman? What was Pheel thinking? Best this state has to offer? What a sh!t show this election is going to be.
In my opinion, it has nothing to do with a Democrat or Republican.
Espy is qualified and knows the ropes in Washington...MS Smith will be consumed by the swamp rats.
Trump would not endorse her....to late now Philbilly, you really screwed up this time.
Who would win an Espy-McDaniel runoff?
Anybody??
Yikes! I thought Harper had this one in the bag. Guess Greg is going to enjoy lobbyist money.
To: 12:05
ESPY 60%----McDaniel 40% and I'm a lifelong Republican.
Espy is smart, articulate, ambitious, and knows who the players are.
Not to mention, his choice in clothing is second to none---great show pony for this State.
It would be Espy winning in a runoff with McDaniel. Women and mainstream republicans would vote in a non-partisan runoff with Dems to provide the winning margin.
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