Candidates in Brief

Clarion Ledger - 3rd Congressional District race: Candidates offer vision
Nine challengers seeking to succeed retiring U.S. Rep. Chip Pickering, R-Flora, in Congress - Rev. James Broadwater - Broadwater, 44, is a Republican from Jackson. He and his wife, Lani, have a son and are Baptist. He is a minister and state employee. Broadwater is a graduate of Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary and the University of Southern Mississippi. He has previously run for Congress and for the state Legislature. "The most important question is, 'Who will stand up for moral values?,'" Broadwater said. "It's not Gregg Harper, who endorsed Mitt Romney for president. It's not David Landrum, who has so much money he doesn't understand what it's like not to have it. It's James Broadwater, who has worked in the pro-life cause for over 20 years, who stands for faith, family, and freedom, who is an unwavering supporter of Mike Huckabee for president, and who will do what's right, no matter which way the wind blows."

Randall "Randy" Eads - Eads, 30, is a Democrat from Starkville. He and his wife, Miranda, have no children and are Baptist. He is a recent Mississippi College School of Law graduate, holds undergraduate degrees from Tennessee and VMI, and owns a real estate company. "The economy is the single most important issue," Eads said. "People are losing their homes to foreclosure, gas prices are outrageous, wages are not rising to keep pace with inflation, health insurance premiums are rising, and future job opportunities are lacking."

Gregg Harper - Harper, 51, is a Republican from Pearl. He and his wife, Sidney, have two children and the family attends the Baptist church. He is a gradate of Mississippi College and the Ole Miss School of Law. Harper is an attorney and city prosecutor for the cities of Richland and Brandon. He has been chairman of the Rankin County GOP for the last 8 years. "Though there are a number of issues important to our candidacy, there is no question that as we have traveled throughout the 28 counties of this district, taking control of illegal immigration by securing the border, enforcing existing laws, opposing amnesty and ending taxpayer benefits to illegals is the most important issue to me and to the voters," said Harper. "I see this issue as a matter of national security and it will be one of my top priorities if I am honored to be elected to the U.S. House of Representatives."

Joel Gill - Gill, 56, is a Democrat from Pickens. He and his wife, Penny, have two children and four grandchildren and are Methodist. He is a graduate of Millsaps College. He is the chief financial officer and managing partner of Mississippi Order Buyers, Inc., and is a Pickens town alderman. "The single most important issue facing the voters of the 3rd District is having their voice heard and represented instead of their congressman following the dictates of the party at the national level regardless of the will of the people, whether that be on illegal immigration, Free Trade Agreements that hurt our small manufacturers and farmers, or restoring fairness to the tax system," said Gill.

Gregory W. Hatcher - Hatcher, 48, is a Republican from Meridian. Hatcher, who is single, is a public relations, marketing and business development consultant. He is a graduate of the University of Alabama and is a Methodist. "Are the people of the 3rd District ready to elect an individual who will represent the needs of all the people in every city, town, and community in the district instead of serving the desires of special interests with their influence and money?" Hatcher asked.

David Landrum - Landrum, 52, is a Republican from Madison. Landrum is a businessman who is a graduate of Jones County Junior College and attended the University of Southern Mississippi. He served three years active duty in the U.S. Army. He and his wife Jill have two children and are Baptist. "I believe my experience as a veteran and a businessman is what we need in Washington," said Landrum. "I have been involved in creating jobs in Mississippi for nearly 30 years, and I will continue to work to create jobs and encourage more businesses to come to the 3rd District. As an Army veteran, I understand the need for a strong military and honoring the service of our veterans. I will work to secure our borders, fight to stop illegal immigration, and work to protect our Mississippi values."

William "Bill" Marcy - Marcy, 62, is a Republican from Meridian. He is retired from the Chicago Police Department where he was a tactical officer and a former private sector security director. He and his wife Susan have grown children and are Christians. "If I become your congressman I will fight to end NAFTA," said Marcy. "I will fight close our borders to all illegals and terrorist and send back anyone that is not in this country legally. I will vote to rewrite laws to eliminate this sin of abortion and help pass a constitutional amendment so that this never happens again. I also pledge to refuse to support any judge that won't overturn Roe vs. Wade."

Charlie Ross - Ross, 51, is a Republican from Brandon. Ross is an attorney and former state senator. He is a graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy and Harvard University Law School. He was a fighter pilot in the U.S. Air Force. He and his wife Sharon have two sons and the family is Presbyterian. "I am anti-illegal immigration, for a strong national defense, and believe it is imperative that we protect the unborn," said Ross. "If I had to single out an issue, however, it is jobs. I am pro-business. I had the highest pro-business rating given to any Mississippi legislator. It is critical that government provide the environment and infrastructure to stimulate job creation and thus enhance the quality of life for all Mississippians and provide our children an opportunity to stay in Mississippi. I will also work diligently to cut wasteful spending and oppose tax increases."

John Rounsaville - Rounsaville, 33, is a Republican from Madison. Rounsaville and his wife, Laura, are Methodist. He holds undergraduate and graduate degrees in business from Mississippi State University. He is a member of the Mississippi Army National Guard and is a former state director the USDA Rural Development agency and a former staffer for U.S. Rep. Chip Pickering and Gov. Haley Barbour. "The economy is the most important issue. Gov. Barbour has set a strong course for economic growth and job creation in Mississippi, and we've been very successful in locating new industry," said Rounsaville. "Some areas, however, have not enjoyed this growth. As Gov. Barbour's economic development aide, I am confident that I am well suited to continue the fight to bring higher-skilled and better paying jobs to help grow the 3rd District."

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The Flora Harvester - District 3 race heats up - Harper, an attorney for over twenty-six years and current prosecuting attorney for the cities of Brandon and Richland, has relied on grass roots campaigning to get his message to the public. He was in Flora on February 9 for a breakfast at Howell’s Restaurant. During the meal, Harper discussed his platform and answered a wide range of questions from the 30 people on hand. He followed the breakfast with a tour of the potential site for the proposed National Bio and Agro Defense Facility at the Flora Industrial Park, and also met with voters at Cotton Exchange Plaza. Landrum is a businessman from Jones County who now lives in Madison County. His campaign has focused on advertising as a means of getting his message to the District 3 voters. Advertising is an expensive endeavor. According to Federal Election Commission records, Landrum has loaned his campaign $410,000 of his own personal funds during the entire election cycle, $210,000 of that has come since January 22, 2008. By exceeding the $350,000 contribution level to his own campaign, Landrum has triggered what is referred to as the ‘millionaire amendment’ in the FEC election law. The millionaire amendment was added to McCain-Feingold campaign finance law in order to ease the personal financial influence that any candidate can have on a race by making donations to his or her own campaign. As a result of Landrum’s huge contribution numbers, the amendment kicks in allowing the other candidates to legally triple the per person contribution limits, moving that figure from a $2300 to $6900 limit per donor. Ross is an attorney and former state senator. He has stuck with much of the same themes he ran on in his failed bid to be Lieutenant Governor last year, and has picked up endorsements from the Club for Growth, Home Builders Assn., the Mississippi Associated Builders and Contractors, and the Mississippi Hospitality and Restaurant Assn. The former District 20 State Senator is widely credited as helping to usher tort reform through the State Senate.