Courtesy of
The Mississippi Link
Candidates address abortion, education, sexual predators
during forum at Jackson State
By Charlotte Dixon
Staff Writer
charlotte@mississippilink.net
As Election 2006 fast approaches, congressional and judicial candidates are on the trial to influence and inform the Mississippiconstituency before the Nov.7 elections.
One of the most hotly contested state races is the vie for the U.S. House of Representatives District 2 seat. Democratic Incumbent Bennie Thompson’s tenure as representative of the predominately Black district has been uninterrupted since 1993. The House became Thompson’s home in April of 1993 after winning a special election after former Representative Mike Espy resigned. Though the lineage of Thompson opponents have fallen short of unseating the congressman, this election season he faces an opponent of differing ranks.
Tchula Mayor Yvonne Brown will be running on the Republican ticket against Thompson next month. Brown made history in 2001 when she was elected Mississippi’s first Black female Republican mayor. Aside from being mayor of the Delta town, Brown is fairly new to the political arena. Since her election, however, Brown has served on Gov. Haley Barbour’s executive transition team and currently serves as chaplain and chair for the legislative committee for the Mississippi Conference of Black Mayors.
Political pundits have predicted that Brown may face some tough hurdles as Thompson’s opponent. Some of her assumed setbacks: she’s Black, female and Republican. The fact that she faces a repeat incumbent who easily trumped Rep. Chuck Espy (D-District 26) in the June Democratic primaries may be another hurdle. However, Brown is unwavering that her platform will change the face of District 2.
A political forum hosted by the Jackson State Universitychapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc was held at JSU on Oct. 4. The forum served as an educational opportunity and community political awareness for students. Congressional candidates were positioned to respond to hot button topics. Candidates addressed questions ranging from issues on parental consent for underage abortions, affordable healthcare for senior citizens, educational advances for students of color, to child predators.
Standing on their ideologies, both Thompson and Brown opposed ....
