Madison County legislators start the new session with big ambitions
Schools, jobs, and infrastructure improvements are at the top of the list this legislative session in Madison County.
The session began on Jan. 2.
Sen. Walter Michel, a Republican who represents District 25 covering parts of Hinds and Madison Counties, said he is working with the Madison Business League to bring in state money for several road improvements in Madison County.
Specifically, Michel said he wanted to continue to push to bring funds to the ongoing Reunion Parkway bridge over I-55 connecting to Bozeman Road. He said this project will work “in tandem” with a number of other projects proposed by the state and county including the widening of Glcukstadt Road and though is close to three years out, the widening of I-55 between Madison and Glcukstadt.
“They all work together,” Michel said.
Another project Michel said he and the Madison County Business League hope to draw state funding for is the proposed connector road starting at Lake Harbour Drive near Costco and going south. He said this road would open a lot of previously “inaccessible land” for development.
State Rep. Jill Ford, a Republican from Madison, said she is still working on her exact legislative agenda for this session but noted that she wants to concentrate on issues preserving representative government, parental rights, protecting women and children, reducing federal control of public schools and returning tax dollars to working families.
She specifically said she would focus on supporting local schools and law enforcement.
“As a Realtor, my personal goals will always be to protect law enforcement and public schools,” Ford said.
“The No. 1 reason why you buy real estate in Madison County is for safety and ability to educate your children in an A+-rated school system.”
Ford is joined by newly elected Reps. Clay Mansel, a Republican representing District 56 which includes parts of Hinds and Madison counties, and Jonathan McMillan, the Republican representing District 58 which covers Madison County.
McMillan said he is still learning the “procedures and processes” and has been “listening to a whole lot” but noted he expects school choice and health care to be issues during this session and hoped to promote more jobs in the state and Madison County with his placements on the Workforce Development and Business and Commerce committees this session.
Mansell said he wants to make running a business in Mississippi an easy proposition and hopes to work on a specific issue close to his heart, foster care and adoption by making sure both Child Protective Services and foster parents in the state have the resources they need.