| Butch Lee |
Brent Bailey |
| Age: 63 |
Age: 48 |
| Occupation: Mayor, City of Brandon |
Occupation: Program Manager |
| Party: Republican |
Party: Republican |
| Office Sought: Transportation Commissioner, Central District |
Office Sought: Public Service Commissioner, Central District |
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| Q: What is your primary motivation for running for public office? |
Q: What is your primary motivation for running for public office? |
| A: I see a great need for leadership at the state level in one of the most important areas of our everyday lives – that of Highway Transportation. We need a renewed, strong focus on maintaining our existing highways and a functional plan to begin replacing our aging bridges. |
A: Mississippians are ready for more choices in services, more competition in the marketplace and being respected as consumers. They also want relief from nuisance robocalls, want more options for rural internet, want certainty against increasing rates and want certainty against another Kemper-type boondoggle. I’m ready to work FOR the consumer. |
| Q: What do you hope to accomplish if elected? |
Q: What do you hope to accomplish if elected? |
| A: To build consensus, together with our legislative leaders, to move toward a long-range sustainable funding plan designed to address level funding for both highway maintenance and the replacement of our aging and deteriorating bridges. |
A: My primary goal is ensuring transparency in all proceedings at the PSC and encouraging utility customers to get engaged by understanding how decisions made by the Commission directly impact family budgets. I want to lower the utility bills that households and businesses pay while creating new economic opportunities for Mississippians. |
| Q: What do you believe most qualifies you for this office? |
Q: What do you believe most qualifies you for this office? |
| A: As an Instructor at the MS State Fire Academy, we constructed and built training areas such as a derailment site and technical rescue facilities. As a Mayor, I have first-hand experience with highway bridges and road projects, personnel, water/sewer systems and administration. |
A: Since 2008, I have been directly engaged in matters before the PSC and have participated in numerous cases serving as a voice and advocate for consumers for utility services to ensure that the interests of homeowners, business owners and rural areas are represented. I put customers’ interests first and will continue to do so. |
| Q: From the perspective of the office you are seeking, what is the single most important issue facing your position in Newton County? |
Q: From the perspective of the office you are seeking, what is the single most important issue facing your position in Newton County? |
| A: Newton County is one of 22 counties in the Central District. We must maintain a safe and reliable transportation system because highway access is the key to public safety, our local and state economy, educational systems and overall quality of life in rural Mississippi. |
A: State laws and regulations must be enforced fairly and effectively in a way that will benefit consumers while providing utilities the incentive to invest in infrastructure and improve services. This is the type of leadership that garners a win/win situation for consumers and the utilities. |
| Q: What role to you see the office you are seeking playing in the lives of Newton County residents? If elected, how would you fulfill that role to provide the best possible service? |
Q: What role to you see the office you are seeking playing in the lives of Newton County residents? If elected, how would you fulfill that role to provide the best possible service? |
| A: The office of Transportation Commissioner exists to protect all residents of our state, especially our rural counties, from the political winds shifting and using precious highway funds to gain political favor. The three-member commission (North, Central and South) exists to direct level funding levels across all of Mississippi and serves to insulate the resources of MDOT from the political power struggles evidenced in state politics. Individually, and as a Commission, their responsibility and focus is solely the best use of every available transportation dollar evenly across every county within the state, to include Newton County. In my opinion, there has been an unspoken, 30-year effort to defund MDOT, and it is time to correct that for all our residents. |
A: Many important decisions impacting your wallet will be made at the PSC in the next year and beyond. You need someone with the knowledge and know-how to protect your interests as a utility customer and as a citizen of this state. For more than a decade, I have worked across the state and region championing common-sense energy policies and utility programs that benefit you while creating new economic opportunities for urban and rural customers. I will also work to stop harassing scam calls that seek to separate you from your money. I am tested, proven and ready to work for you. |
