By By Georgia E. Frye / staff writer
July 27, 2003
Max Phillips says the office of Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce is important because it touches the lives of every Mississippian on a daily basis.
Phillips also said the office should not be appointed because there may be a change in administration every four years and it would be disruptive to the department.
He said, if elected, he has a vision for agriculture in Mississippi. One is to develop an advisory committee for agriculture made up of representatives from all aspects of society. The other is to develop Team Ag, a grassroots organization that will work as a conduit of information from the community to the department.
Phillips is seeking the Republican nomination in the Aug. 5 primary for Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce. He ran unsuccessfully for the same seat in 1991 and 1995.
In the primary, he faces Republicans Roger D. Crowder, Kyle Weston Magee and Fred T. Smith. The winner of the primary will face incumbent Commissioner Lester Spell.