With the election just around the corner it is typical that politicians would be visiting in Simpson County. As a rule we try to stay away from publicizing these little trips; however, when you have a seated big-time politician like a United States Senator visit small communities it is news. Even their competition at this level is news.
Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith stopped by Simpson County last week for a small get-together held at Peoples Bank in Magee. The bank has been kind enough to open their doors for events like this in the past.
Senator Hyde-Smith addressed several of the professional relationships she has established while in Washington. Specifically she discussed building a professional relationship with President Donald Trump. She said that when Trump asks her opinion on certain job-related matters he is more than willing to listen to her thoughts and will act in the best interests of her constituents.
Smith has a long term relationship with Simpson County, and that has been good for us.
She first ran for office in 2007 when she campaigned for Mississippi State Senator for District 39. In 2011 she won her first statewide election for Commissioner of Agriculture.
In 2018 Governor Phil Bryant tapped her to fill the unexpired term of US Senator Thad Cochran, who announced that he was stepping down in March 2018. Hyde-Smith said it took a lot of coaxing before she agreed to accept the governor’s appointment.
In a special election in November of 2018 she defeated Mike Espy, former Cabinet member, as Secretary of Agriculture for the United States. She is set to face Espy again in the November election.
Guests for the visit at Peoples Bank observed social distancing guidelines as well as the wearing of masks.
Hyde-Smith told the gathering of her support for Amy Coney Barrett, the President’s appointment to fill the vacancy on the U. S. Supreme Court.
She discussed just how uncivil national politics had become. She mentioned attempts to physically assault her. She says she has a great admiration for Brad White from Simpson County, who served her as Chief of Staff in Washington. She said Brad had resorted to some of his Simpson County upbringing as he defended her from hecklers.
She feels strongly that China should be held financially accountable for their part in the spread of the Covid-19 Pandemic.
When asked how the United States is going to be able to pay off the debt incurred by the pandemic, she said it was going to take a lot of belt tightening.
She currently serves on Energy and Natural Resources, Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, Rules and Administration committees and the Senate Appropriations Committee.
If the Republican Party can maintain its leadership of the Senate, it should be a natural consequence that Cindy Hyde-Smith will be re-elected.
