By By Steve Gillespie / staff writer
July 24, 2003
With a key business endorsement tucked soundly into her corner on Wednesday in Meridian, Mississippi's lieutenant governor took her re-election campaign today to Southaven, Columbus, Hattiesburg and Gulfport.
The National Federation of Independent Business officially endorsed Republican Amy Tuck during a news conference at Barbara Henson's Nursery School, Kindergarten &Swim Gym.
Tuck will meet Reform Party candidate Anna J. Reives and the Democratic Party nominee in the Nov. 5 general election. Voters will choose the Democratic nominee in the Aug. 4 party primary.
At stake: One of the state's most powerful elected offices. The lieutenant governor is second-in-command of the state, succeeds the governor and presides over the state Senate. The job pays a base salary of $60,000 a year.
More jobs
Tuck said she is committed to creating more job opportunities for Mississippians through work force training, and that she will fight for more reform within the state's legal system.
Henson, who also serves as Meridian's Ward 3 councilman and president of the Meridian City Council, hosted the NFIB announcement at her business on State Boulevard.
More than 20 people attended the event, many of them Republican officials or candidates. The endorsement was announced by Ron Aldridge of Jackson, NFIB/Mississippi state director.
Major group
Aldridge said his organization is the state's leading small-business advocacy group, serving 4,200 members.
He said members have the option of voting for the organization to endorse or not endorse a candidate. Aldridge said 90 percent of survey responders called for the NFIB to support Tuck.
He added that Tuck was the only lieutenant governor candidates to complete an NFIB questionnaire.
Margaret Remy is another supporter who was at the event. She owns Quick Prints, a photo processing business in Meridian. Remy, along with Henson, serves on the NFIB state advisory council.