The failure of Gary Anderson to be elected insurance commissioner shows barriers remain for black Mississippians seeking statewide office. Anderson defeated Democrat George Dale for the nomination, but lost Tuesday to Republican Mike Chaney, a state senator from Vicksburg with a mediocre record and little statewide name recognition.
Anderson is black; Chaney is white.
Of course, the "R" behind Chaney's name played a big part as did the business money behind him, I am afraid race still played the bigger role.
Mississippi still has a ways to go to elect a statewide elected official. If Anderson can't break that barrier, I don't know who can right now.
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I voted for Mr. Anderson the last time he ran because I thought he earned a shot at the treasurer's job. I did not vote for him this time because he was backed by Dickie Scruggs and the trial lawyers. That would have been disaster for the insurance industry and policyholders of Mississippi. That is why he lost to Mr. Chaney.
With due respect, both candidates lacked the ZIP I'd like to have seen. Following in the footsteps of George Dale, yet another Katrina victim, will be tough. For my vote, Chaney was farther from Musgrove than Anderson -- no matter that both might have been green with purple polka-dot pigmented skin. . . Let's drop the race card!
I don't want to make a big deal out of it, but race cannot be ignored. We supported George Dale in the primary over Anderson because we thought him more qualified. We supported Anderson because we thought him more qualified than Chaney. Dale vaguely brought up race by saying in his literature that he was the only Democrat who could win in November. He was right. He knew it. The Republicans knew it. Was Dickie Scruggs and issue? Yes. Butr race also was a factor
Dave, it's my experience that the vast majority of caucasians in this state view other people by the content of their character and not by the color of their skin. It's sad that liberals such as yourself seem to be hung up in the past.
How can you ignore the fact that this African American candidate did better "percentage-wise" than his Caucasian Democratic counterparts (Eaves, Franks, Smith, Hopkins, O'Hara, Cole...I could go on and on). Why does this have to be a race issue? I have no doubt that ignorance played a role, in that many people picked Chaney because of the "R" behind his name...but give me a break. How can we move forward as a state with pessimists like you perpetuating this largely erroneous concept?
Pessimist? Not me. Realist. Yes. When Mississippi elects a statewide black elected official from either party, it will show things have changed politiclly. So far, not happening. Mississippi has more black elected officials for one reason — the voting rights act. Racial voting is a reality, black and white. I hope and believe we will get past that some day. See what an optimist I am?
I am tremendously impressed at Mr. David Hampton's fortitude to hold firm his ground at his beliefs as to why Gary Anderson possibly didn't win. Gary's experience far out weighted Chaney-whom I've never heard of until election time for the (general election). Race is a factor but the people will wake up and smell the coffee espiecally in Rankin, Madison, and etc-who overwhelmingly voted the other way despite the facts in the I.C. race. I'm also optimistic. Keep up the good work David.
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