Landrum touts entrepreneurial spirit in bid for U.S. Rep. seat

Madison County Journal Profile: "It is this small business entrepreneurial spirit and a desire to serve others that has led him to campaign for the seat currently held by Rep. Charles W. "Chip" Pickering, Jr. of Flora, who plans to leave Congress in 2009. Fellow Madison resident John Rounsaville, Gregg Harper of Pearl and Charlie Ross of Brandon have also announced their intentions to run. The Jones County native says he is a leader first and foremost, someone who has built a successful company while trying to live by the motto that, 'If you focus on doing the right thing, the dollars will chase you.' While he has ventured into the fray in certain ways, serving as Gov. Haley R. Barbour's finance chairman for Madison County this election year, Landrum, a graduate of Southern Mississippi, says he is not a political animal at heart. In addition to his work with Primerica, which has 100 sales offices nationwide, Landrum is developing several residential properties in Madison County, including Noah's Mill on Mississippi 22 between Canton and Flora, and Chestnut Hill on Mississippi 463, where he intends to recreate the historic Livingston community. He is also a board member of the Madison County Foundation and Transformation Jackson and serves as chairman of the board for Mission Mississippi. He attends the Ridgeland campus of Pinelake Baptist Church. Landrum also served in the U.S. Army as a military policeman, spending time overseas in Germany that has given him a first-hand appreciation of the country's armed forces. He believes the most important issue facing the Third District is economic development and its relationship to children's performance in schools. He believes the government should have a lesser role, however, when dealing with problems like fallout from the sub-prime mortgage industry. The main role of Washington in such a situation is to conduct oversight and raise awareness, he believes. Whenever he gets some free time, Landrum said he is a big outdoorsman who goes camping. For some more technologically advanced relaxation, he enjoys listening to U2, Lynyrd Skynyrd and country music on his iPod. In the end, Landrum says he will listen to almost anything. But when he hits the campaign trail, Landrum said his single focus will be on convincing voters he is the right man for the job. 'I plan on being part of the movement to restore the Republican Party,' he said."