State Representative Mark Baker (R-Ampitheatre) issued the following statement.
Today, Representative Mark Baker (R-Brandon) announced he will run for Attorney General in 2019 and will not seek re -elect ion to the Mississippi House of Repre sent at ives . Baker has served in the House since 2004 .
"When I first ran for the Mississippi House of Representatives, I made a simple pledge - to have the same attitude toward my constituents that I have always had toward my clients," said Rep. Baker. "I made a concerted effort to return every call, respond to every email and reply to every text message that day . I vowed to never 'go along to get along' and to not be a 'yes man.'
"I believe I have fulfilled that commitment," he continued. "I am proud of the work I have been able to accomplish for the constituents of District 74."
Speaker of the House Philip Gunn selected Baker to serve as Chairman of Judiciary A, the House committee focused on legal issues in Mississippi. In this role, Baker passed the Attorney General "Sunshine Act," supported judges and prosecutors, fought for legislation to assist and protect law enforcement, and worked with many groups to pass balanced civil forfeiture reform.
In Baker's role as part of leadership in the House, he helped craft state budgets focused on living within its means, opposed raising burdensome taxes, passed major educational reforms, and fought to cut taxes that made the state less competitive for industry.
"My public service in the Mississippi House of Representatives is something I will forever cherish; but, it is time for me to try something new, to put my energy toward a new challenge," said Rep. Baker . "I am moving forward with a plan to run for Attorney General next year. I believe my legal and legislative background uniquely position me to do the best job for the people of our great state."
Representative Baker was first elected to the Mississippi House of Representatives in 2004, representing District 74 which currently includes parts of Rankin County and which previously also included parts of Madison County. As Republican Leader from 2008-2012, Representative Baker coordinated the recruitment, fundraising and campaign efforts which led to a Republican majority in the Mississippi House of Representatives for the first time since Reconstruction. Representative Baker is Chairman of the House Judiciary En Banc and Judiciary A Committees and is a member of the Appropriations, Banking and Finance, Transportation and Investigate State Offices
Committees.
Legislative awards and recognition include t he 2012 State Legislative Achievement Award from the U.S. Chamber Institute for Legal Reform , the 2012-2013 Champion for Children Award from Prevent Child Abuse Mississippi, Outstanding Legislator for 2013 by the Mississippi Association of Realtors, 2014 Legislator of the Year by the Mississippi Homebuilders Association and the 2015 Legislative Award from the Mississippi Municipal League.
During his time in the legislature, Representative Baker been endorsed by interest groups such as Mississippi Right to Life and the National Rifle Association and has received highly favorable ratings from various conservative, agriculture, education and pro-business groups such as Americans for Prosperity, the American Conservative Union, the Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation, Empower Mississippi, the National Federation of Independent Business, and the Business and Industry Political Education Committee (BIPEC) .
Representative Baker has been a member of the Mississippi Bar since 1987 and currently engages in private practice in Brandon. He is admitted to practice law in all state and federal courts in the State of Mississippi, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit and the United States Supreme Court . Representative Baker has extensive experience as a prosecutor and judge.
In addition to practicing law, Represent at iv e Baker is a licensed property and casualty insurance agent. He is a former member of the Rankin County Republican Executive Committee and is a member and past president of the Rankin County Bar Association and the Rankin County Rotary Club.
Representative Baker graduated from the University of Memphis in 1984 (B.A., Criminal Justice) and Mississippi College School of Law in 1987 (J. D., with distinction).
Representative Baker was born on May 13, 1962 an d is married to the former Lady Collins, an English teacher at Brandon High School. They have one son, Chase, who is a public policy major in the Trent Lott Leadership Institute at the University of Mississippi. The Bakers are members of Lakeside Presbyterian Church.
34 comments:
Mark is the greediest, least trust worthy person on the planet.
This is the funniest thing I have seen in a while. This dude as been a back row nobody in the legislature while feasting at the public trough for 20+ years. He has accomplished absolutely nothing.
Even more so than Lamar Adams? Dang!
this guy is a puke. the only place a person like him could exist is here in the 3nd world country of mississippi.
Mark is not very easy to like either.
10:19 - I thought the present and preceding AGs were neck and neck for that honor.
At least he isn’t letting his buddy in the body shop business spread his bullshit to anyone who will listen. That’s a leg up for sure.
Does Mark Baker have a baby brother who can be Ethics czar?
Tom has been there too long... I know he wants big bro to be Guv, so he can get a new gig...
#nobodyreallycaresanyway
No offense to the stand-up, civic minded, men and women of character that spout off on this site anonymously, that do not have a scintilla of intestinal fortitude, a sac or vagina, since apparently the slang of previous anatomy is now acceptable on this site, to put themselves out there like the good Representative has. Lord knows what the rest of the invisible warriors on this site would say about you.
I, for one, want someone like Mr. Baker in the role of AG. I want a bulldog in there that will cut the crap and get down to business. And apparently, according to the posters above, he has no friends, so he won't be handing out lawsuits to his buddies for them to profit of the state. Get over yourselves. Baker is effective in what he does.
Looks like Phil likes the announcement, he was sitting with the Gov last night at the MADISON event no less, in front of Lynn. HA, how is that for saying a lot without saying a word.
I think Baker will do a great job. he may not be the guy you want to hang out with, but I am not voting for "Class Favorite or Friendliest."
Lottery? Lottery? Lottery?
It takes a lot of courage to run for public office these days, and even more if it's a state wide campaign. It's hard work and sacrifice that often doesn't result in victory, but we still have people like Mark Baker willing to do it. Thank goodness for the posters here at JJ who thoughtfully keep us grounded.
Me Baker is fun to hang out with... maybe it is just you guys??? Lol
Dang you folks are being brutal to Mr. Baker.
He is a very competent attorney (kind of rare these days) and gives a lot back to the community.
This is why we have elections so the voters can choose. He'll get my vote because he doesn't "need" this job. He wants it.
Say what you will about Baker - and some people have said worse things than are in this thread - but @10:25 couldn't be more wrong. Baker was the House Republican leader when they were the minority and he has run one of the 3 biggest committees for the past 8 years. He is one of Gunn's go to guys. Call him a jackass and I won't dispute you, but he is anything but inconsequential.
If being a jackass gets one exiled to the salt mines, we would no longer have this blog to piss and moan on.
Name something of consequence that Baker has accomplished in the legislature besides being a "go to guy" otherwise considered a lap dog.
Mark Baker is incapable of being involved in a civil conversation that involves a contentious issue. His temperament does not allow him to carry on in a professional and productive manner. A commentor above referenced him to a “bulldog”. I agree, but with the caveat that he is a rabid (pit) bulldog. When one disagrees with him he blows up like a spoiled child. Civil debate is not in him. Childish tantrums are his mantra and that is not what we need in our elected officials.
I know Baker professionally and personally. I have tried a case with him as co-counsel. He is sharp as a tack, and he really is in it for the right reasons. He has been a leader in the House on all sorts of issues that non-lawyers could care less about, but which are hugely and positively consequential. Ask any contractor or subcontractor about the lien bill he championed. He has plenty of common sense, and he isn't a demagogue who will say anything to get a vote. And he's got more backbone than almost any politician I know.
2:46 provides a perfect discription of baker. catering to a bunch of illiterate rednecks in rankin county is far removed from being in statewide office.
baker is a hard core ,right wing, republican party political hacker. and if he cant get any support by the people that read JJ, id say his campaign is in trouble right out of the gate.
2:46 pm knows Mark well.
His candidacy is a win/win for Mississippi. He will be out of the House and beaten like a drum for AG. Good riddance. Let him go back to Rankin Co. where he can heap his distemper on those who deserve it most, those who elected him in the first place.
@ 2:30 off the top of my head: Lien Bill, Sunshine Act, Child Protection Act, judicial reapportionment, judicial purview clarification
For his district, he’s gotten significant $ for transportation projects and the amphitheater (I don’t like the earmarking, but it shows he’s effective in the process).
4:31,
Uh, I don't mean to be Captain Obvious, but it looks like it worked out well for the current GOVERNOR and LT. GOV! Results bitch. Plus the scoreboard doesn't lie. BTW, Rankin County has had the lowest unemployment for the last 7 years in the state and this past month it was at 3.0%, so let those "illiterate rednecks" enjoy the fruits of their labor and laugh all the way to bank.
You must have a 39211 zip code and have recently replaced a damaged tire and rim on your Audi. SUCKER!
to 12:37 "fruits of their labor"....... in most of rankin county thats called crystal meth.
I know nothing about Mr. Baker but I am a native Mississippian with many decades of residency. I would like to ask this board a question.
—-Can anyone site a criminal prosecution of an elected official by a Mississippi Attorney General?
Growing up here in MS everyone used to poke fun at LA as being the most corrupt state. There is no way any state could possibly be more corrupt than Mississippi.
Recently the MS Supreme Court unanimously ruled about illegal zoning in Ridgeland. Has anyone heard of any criminal investigation. Something had to make these elected officials to grossly violate the law. The DA is busy running for a higher office. I have no idea what the AG is doing.
@9:01 please site the “funding” for the amphitheater he acquired? I was under the impression it was built due to the city of brandon’s 2% food and beverage tax eat marked for parks and rec, the ampitheatre being recreational. Please help me dispel this as I’m sure I am incorrect.
to 2:01pm... to answer your question the AGs office went after the hinds county district attorney only last year. unfortunately the only thing they proved is that Smith is a very bizarre dude. the AG Has also secured another indictment against him in rankin county which is set for trial this summer.
2:01 pm
Zoning issue irregularity is a criminal act?
They were faulted for failing to comply with a statute.
Maybe if you found money from costco to gene then maybe?
I choose to believe gene did it wrong but for the right reasons....increasing tax base.
But if you have proof of earl dean Rhodes type kick backs then by all means go see the DA?
It is what’s behind the zoning. According to MSC there was no ambiguity of law, just intentional.
Anyway, why do I have to find it? I don’t have the investigated tools of government. There are assistant attorney generals assigned to the state auditor & both have investigators. I would like to think these competent. Both agency are aware of suspicious actions.
“Increase the tax base”. Since they got their hand slapped for trying to slip it by as a “tourist attraction” good old BS just sold some TIF bonds for them. If one is going to exempt one from sales tax for 20 years that only leaves real estate taxes. I doubt that would pay for all the added infrastructure/law enforcement/ future dilapidation cost. Tax exemption for retail on virgin property, with all the redevelopment needs!
It’s Irl Dean Rhodes, nor Earl.
to 2:01pm ,,,,, remember , circuit judge john emfinger ruled that the city of ridgeland did everything properly and legally when they railroaded the costco zoning decision through. THE SUPREME COURT RULED THE EXACT OPPOSITE. why isn't emfinger removed from the bench for incompetence after issuing such a ruling? mark your calendar and vote against that gene mcgee political lapdog ass kisser in the next election.
2:01, the MSSC said that the zoning done by Ridgeland was not legal. That does not make the action that the city officials took criminal! Your understanding of the law, or its application is totally skewed. Whoever you support for AG let us know - cause I damn sure want someone else.
2:16, no - again your ignorance shows through. A TIF does not only leave the RE taxes (although that is a nice benefit). I realize you probably never took an Economics course, and if you did sit in it you obviously didn't understand any part of it.
Multiplier effect? Money spent in the community? Any of this coming back to you? Employment taxes? And the TIF only uses the sales taxes to pay for the infrastructure needs of the development - a responsibility of the community. Any additional sales taxes over the TIF payment do go to the state and community.
But besides all that - you still have not pointed to any illegal action of the city officials that the current AG (who I don't respect, but at least he knows what is not prosecutable) should be dealing with. Go back into your cubbyhole and consider everyone that passes your front entrance as crooked if they disagree with your opinion.
Post a Comment