She’s been performing the duties and responsibilities of the job as the interim for the past six months while Governor Tate Reeves ran for re-election.
Now that he’s started his second term as Mississippi Governor, Reeves took the interim off of Anne Hall Brashier’s title. The Indianola Academy and Ole Miss alum is the chief of staff for the governor’s office, and the state’s first ever female chief of staff.
“I’m honored to have the opportunity to serve Mississippi in this capacity,” Brashier told The Enterprise-Tocsin this week. “Governor Reeves has advanced a success-driven mindset for Mississippi that has had profound results. I look forward to having the opportunity to help continue shaping public policy for the betterment of the state that I love.”
In a press release from the governor’s office, the second term Reeves raved about his now permanent Chief of Staff.
“Anne Hall Brashier is incredibly smart and talented,” said Reeves. “I’m confident that she will do a fantastic job managing this office and our legislative agenda as we enter the second term. I look forward to working with her to build on the past four years of historic accomplishments.”
She is the daughter of Patricia and John Rodgers Brashier of Indianola.
The 2009 Indianola Academy grad had her sights initially set on being a physical therapist and left Ole Miss with a degree in Exercise Science.
But then an internship with the late United States Senator Thad Cochran’s office opened her eyes and talents to the world of government service. That internship turned into a seven year run in Washington D.C. but she knew she wanted to get back home to the Magnolia State.
“I figured out that I loved politics and stayed up there with Senator Cochran for five years and then worked for Senator Trent Kelly from North Mississippi for a year and then Senator Tom Tillis from North Carolina for a year,” Brashier said. “I did National Security.”
Then in 2019, when Reeves was first elected, she came home to work in “his policy shop. I’ve been with him all four years of his first term mainly as deputy policy director and was promoted to Policy Director and then deputy chief of staff and then interim chief of staff back in 2023.”
Brashier was told that her title would be lifted “when I win, you win” Reeves told her during the campaign. She noted that the day-to-day events and responsibilities can be much like what is depicted in movies and on TV.
“Some days it’s almost like the TV shows but no two days are the same,” she said. “With the Legislature in session, it gives you more certainty of what we’re doing every day. We are in the capital working on the Governor’s agenda, his budget and policy. Outside of session, we travel the state a lot.”
Brashier works to keep Reeves’ priorities, such as economic development and constituent issues, in the forefront. She is over 20-25 people in the governor’s staff and deals directly with 13 executive agencies.
“We have a policy director and a comms (communications) director that I work with daily depending on what the message is,” she said.
One such incident was dealing with the death of a George County deputy.
“We had to work with the comms director at 7 p.m. at night and worked to lower the flags on Friday for the funeral. We had to work to get a proclamation on that,” she said.
As the Governor’s Chief of Staff, Brashier is constantly in contact with the number one man in Mississippi.
“He hears from me way more than he would like I’m sure,” she said with a laugh. “Updating him on happenings and getting his guidance. He’ll call me saying he’s seen certain things and direct me. We’re on call 24/7, especially during hurricane and tornado season.”
The Delta native has been able to travel the entire state getting familiar with all 82 counties.
“I had never spent much time on the Gulf Coast growing up and I’ve really enjoyed seeing the coast. I did National Security issues while in D.C. and went to Ingalls Ship Building and the Stennis Space Center. It’s really amazing to see what we do on the coast,” she said.
One county she had never been to was Tishomingo County, but that is where the job took her one day when a tornado ripped through the county.
“We flew with the National Guard up there and that was interesting even though it was a bad time to go there. And I’ve always been to DeSoto County to drive to Memphis Airport but they have a lot going on with economic development in the DeSoto and Marshall County area,” she said.
When the Legislature is out of session, Brashier is busy travelling every day working with and overseeing projects around the state.
Her first six to seven months spent as interim chief of staff, Brashier was busy with campaign issues. With that behind her, the full force of what the job actually entails has hit.
Her first week with the Legislature in session had her working with the policy director and Governor Reeves called to get her working on a press release.
“It was a good feeling last week when I got the interim title taken off and now let’s get to work for the next four years and see what this is all about,” she said.
She notes that even with a bump in pay, the hours are more demanding and longer but the “job is very rewarding. Being in D.C. made me realize how much I loved Mississippi. I love being back here and working for our state. I think our better days are ahead of us.”
And with her Delta background, Brashier is constantly preaching the benefits and needs of her home county and area.
“He listens to me talk about the Delta all of the time. I have a great relationship with (state) Senator (Sarita) Simmons and Representative (Otis) Anthony,” she said. “I’ve worked with Commissioner (Willie) Simmons and former Senator and now getting to know his daughter Sarita. And Otis and I have gotten to know each other. That’s a great relationship on how we can help the Delta. They are both great and very helpful to me and do great work for Sunflower County.”
Her favorite part of the job is getting to know more Mississippi residents.
“Interacting with Mississippians across the state and getting to know people from all over is interesting in learning what they do and learn something new about the state.”
Looking beyond her next four years, Brashier hasn’t made a plan to be run for Governor or any other elected official as “my mom told they are too mean to people who run for office so she can’t let me do that,” she said laughing. “I don’t have any long-term plans but I’ll be staying in Mississippi whatever it is. I’d love to one day be farming with my dad (John Rodgers Brashier). He tells me its more complicated than I know.”
Serving Mississippi and representing Indianola and the Delta area she loves, Mississippi Governor Chief of Staff, Anne Hall Brashier.
