Phil Bryant brings experience, vision to the mansion

In 1990, Phil Bryant was elected to the Mississippi House of Representatives from the 59th District, becoming the first Republican ever elected from that district. In 2011, he was elected governor of the state of Mississippi. Bryant easily swept the 2011 election, as many expected, which many credit to the familiarity of his name. 

He has previously served as Haley Barbour’s second lieutenant governor, state auditor for 11 years under three separate governors and the aforementioned position in the state House. With around 20 years of political experience under his belt, his critics often refer to him as a “career politician,” which carries an extremely negative connotation among much of America’s voting base.

However, detractors were unable to convince 61 percent of Mississippi voters that Bryant was not best for Mississippi. Why couldn’t they? Well, because he is what is best for Mississippi.

Bryant brought experience that other candidates were lacking, but most importantly, Bryant had a vision for Mississippi that no other candidate had.

Speaking to an overflow crowd in Founder’s Square at the Neshoba County Fair, Bryant explained his vision for Mississippi.

“The very first day in Mississippi Legislature, we passed a business incentive that brought companies to Mississippi -— the very first day,” Bryant said. “That is the lieutenant governor I have been, and that is the type of governor I will hopefully continue to be ... we are going to reach out to advanced manufacturing ... the medical industry; we are going to push hard, and I am talking about one thousand new physicians in the field by 2025 ... we are going to have career schools ... I know where we can be.”

In a matter of minutes, Bryant roughly outlined where he wants to see Mississippi and how he is going to work to get us there. He mentioned previous successful business ventures, such as GE Aviation and Southern Power, bringing jobs, revenue and notoriety to Mississippi, which was made possible by Barbour and his work.

He mentions future tasks, both short term and long term, which will raise Mississippi up from the bottom of the rankings through business, medicine and education; tasks he believes are viable and necessary for Mississippians.

In order for Bryant to be able to achieve what he has outlined, he needs the help of the Mississippi Legislature and citizens. Fortunately for him, the Republican Party gained control of the Mississippi House for the first time since Reconstruction. 

Even though the Mississippi Democratic and Mississippi Republican parties are ideologically closer than most two party systems, there is still enough difference for partisanship to halt the political process. 

With Republican control of the governor’s mansion, Mississippi Senate and now the Mississippi House, Mississippi can truly move forward with a focus on business, medicine and education, which are the foundations of our society.

Mississippi has been moving in the right direction, and we will continue to do so under the leadership of Phil Bryant, the 64th governor of the state of Mississippi.

Trenton Winford is a sophomore public policy leadership major from Madison.