Jackson Jambalaya

Brad has developed into a great leader and manager. We need more like him government. Unlike many in politics, Brad is 100% transparent and tries to always do what’s best.

Yes he’s a friend and yes I’m happy for him. But, I know he’ll bring order and accountability to MDOT.

This is really, really interesting. Not saying yet that it is good or bad, but it is interesting.

All the Tater Tots are jumpin out of that pressure cooker. I predict many more to follow.

Will MDOT now stop purchasing shovels that stand up by themselves?

Speaking of the governor, did anything ever become of the ultimatum that the crazy weed guy posted on Twitter last week, regarding the 1 week deadline for Reeves to call the special session, and which was published on this blog?

What’s this guy done other than get appointed to stuff bu relatives and friends of relatives? Any private industry real life experience?

Of course, same could be said about our bank teller Governor.

He's not a leader. He's a Zero!

Watching from the sidelines, and wish him the best of luck. If this guy is going to transform MDOT, he's going to have to kick a bunch of career dead beats to the curb who spend all day in air conditioned offices watching youtube and checking their PERS balance.

9:59. No, he has not. I’ve known him for 20+ yrs. Nice, smart guy. Head of state Republican party, chief of staff for 3-4 state and federal officials, on the staff/election committees of more. All he has ever had are political jobs. NO real world private sector work experience. If MDOT needs a politician in charge, they got one.

bet he cant solve a differential equation.... been waiting all his life for his next appointment, just like around-town Rounsaville...
F this state

7:06. In principal, you just described the governor....sad but true...birds of a feather....

Two questions:
1) What is his expertise/qualification in road construction, repair and maintenance?
2) Are he and Shad related?

Without naming names, I think it is a fact that there have been previous MDOT Directors who convinced the Transportation Commission that they worked for the Director and not the other way around. MDOT is a huge bureaucracy (it has to be) but it is supposed to respond to the will of the people through the Commission and the Legislature. MDOT needs a Director who understands this and can make the bureaucracy understand this.
That said, I expect Mr. White will either be excellent or horrible. I don't think he will be mediocre in any way.

Typical appointment. Reminds me of Lynn Fitch after she got 'most favored status' from Barbour and he put on the rotating-agency fast-track. Or the bunch of male and female goobs who were put in charge of Employment Security over the past thirty five years (including Fitch for a few months). At least this guy won't fall asleep sitting at a quarter slot-machine.

Worked with him at MDOT years ago. Great guy and congratulations!

"All the Tater Tots are jumpin out of that pressure cooker. I predict many more to follow."

Tater put him in this job, Dimwit!

A good ol boy gets a good ol boy appointment, and the state at large just got fitted for a new pair of cement shoes to keep it at the bottom.

Man have the jealous haters come out in force!
Look, elections have consequences.
Some men are destined to be kings while others play the role of king maker.
Kings reward their Kingmakers.
The Governor of the Great State of Mississippi should have direct control of the largest and most well funded agency in the state.
There are ways to make this happen without the help of the legislature.

so we now have a shad white and a brad white?

and a Betty White and Barry White.
I like Ron White best though.

First task I hope is to fix the embarrassment that is the construction length on Hwy 49 south. Those poor businesses ought to be able to sue the state for lost revenues.

Pandemic did not help, nor the funding that dried up. All this comes from Federal funds on highway construction.Just FYI

It’s so reassuring to know so many of the commenters here understand how their government functions. He was not appointed by Tate to anything. The MDOT executive director is hired by the Transportation Committee. In theory, some of you voted to elect its members.

9:07 - Your knowledge and expertise on how these things work are astoundingly lacking. Didn't say Tate appointed him. Said Tate put him in the job. Every commission and committee steps and fetches. Being king has its advantages.

Tate seems to be batting well. Burl sounds like he's come out of the blocks at full speed and has his head screwed on straight. And the new Commissioner (or whatever his job title is) of MHP sounds really effective and I believe him to be a quality leader (manager of people and personalities).

And while we're stuck with Gunn and Dagburt, Watson seems to be doing a good job from my seat looking in the window with limited inside dope. Shad is kicking ass although a lot of you think he's picking low-hanging fruit. Maybe this guy is the right man for the job at the current time. His track record and inside knowledge of systems tells me to give him a chance. Although some of you think the governor did not influence the decision to hire him, I think you're wrong. Regardless, he's not a petty alcoholic who kicked an elected highway commissioner entirely out of the new building.

And thank God and Greyhound Feel Brant, Steve 'the undertaker' Holland and Cecil-The-Frown-Brown are finally out of state government left to suck on the PERS tit for thirty years.