By Staff
TWO WEEKS TO GO Mississippi Gov. Ronnie Musgrove speaks Tuesday at Structural Steel Services Plant No. 2 in Meridian. Musgrove toured the plant and referred afterward to his promotional 18-wheeler, in the background, as he talked about creating jobs for Mississippians and about his chief gubernatorial opponent, Haley Barbour. Musgrove and Barbour meet in the Nov. 4 election. Photo by Kyle Carter/The Meridian Star
By Steve Gillespie / staff writer
Oct. 22, 2003
Gov. Ronnie Musgrove visited workers at Structural Steel Services Plant No. 2 in Meridian on Tuesday and collected an example of the industry's products to show others.
Musgrove is traveling the state this week visiting industrial sites. He is traveling in a convoy of motor vehicles including an 18-wheeler with a banner stretched across both sides that reads "Made in Mississippi for America" and "Musgrove, Governor."
Musgrove's visit came two weeks before the Nov. 4 election, in which he faces Republican Haley Barbour and three third-party candidates. One of the top issues in the campaign has been jobs and the state economy.
Musgrove said he is using the tractor-trailer truck to store items produced at various industries. Tommy Dulaney, owner of Structural Steel, gave Musgrove a steel plate used in construction projects.
Dulaney, former East Mississippi Business Development Corp. chairman, said Musgrove has worked hard for East Mississippi and helped create a joint economic development agreement between Alabama and Mississippi.
Dulaney said companies are seriously considering moving to the area because of the pledge the two states have made to work together.
Musgrove is scheduled to continue his tour through Friday and will include stops in Fulton, Amory, Hernando, Indianola, Jackson, Greenville and Natchez. On Tuesday, he also visited Biloxi, Laurel and Tupelo.
Barbour campaign spokesman Quinton Dickerson downplayed Musgrove's visit to Meridian.