Broadwater Quixote

Commerical Dispatch - Broadwater wages quixotic campaign for 3rd Congressional District seat - James Broadwater is a state government worker and Baptist minister seeking the Republican nomination for the U.S. House seat being vacated by Rep. Chip Pickering. Broadwater said he wants to spend his career in government, but he criticized it as an institution of waste and crooked power that impedes private enterprise. A Baptist pastor and missionary prior to working for the state Tax Commission, Broadwater said he wants to bring his religious values to the U.S. House of Representatives. While Broadwater said government should not reach into what the private sector does better, he wants to remain in public service for the rest of his career. “I would like to serve the people of Mississippi and the people of the United States for a long time. In fact, I'd like to spend the rest of my life in government service until I retire or until incapacity or death renders me unable to serve.” Broadwater said he supports Huckabee - also a minister - for president and wanted to campaign with him in Mississippi. While Huckabee has remained in the race, U.S. Sen. John McCain virtually locked up enough votes last month to win the GOP nomination. Broadwater has not reported any campaign spending or donations, according to the Federal Election Commission. Broadwater is a graduate of Mississippi Delta Community College and the University of Southern Mississippi. He also has a master of divinity degree from Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary.
He unsuccessfully ran for a Mississippi House seat in 2007 and a U.S. House seat in 2004. Now an employee of the Mississippi Tax Commission, Broadwater has worked in state government for almost four years. Before that, he was in the ministry for 13 years, serving as a pastor, minister of music and youth and director of students for a Baptist association of churches. He also has been a missionary for the Southern Baptist Convention.