Reeves’ military-school precision at times makes it seem that Reeves can check off the competency box. It might prove more difficult to convince voters that the state is moving in the right direction. Numerous candidates for public office in Brandon spoke out about the problems they want to solve at a recent event sponsored by the Rankin County Republican Women. Brandon Mayor Butch Lee said, “It’s time we got serious about transportation.” He is running to be the Central District transportation commissioner. He spoke to the Rankin Countians of the poor state of the state’s infrastructure. These thoughts were echoed by Bill Waller Jr., former Chief Justice of Jackson who is running against Reeves for the Republican primary. He explained to the crowd that Tommy Parker, Jones County School Superintendent, said that he must provide vouchers for parents to transport their children to school as the school bus is too heavy and cannot cross the bridge. Waller spoke out about the need to raise teacher salaries to the Southeastern average, and to improve health care access across the state. Robert Foster, a Republican candidate for governor, said that while there are many great things about the state, we still lag economically. The Democratic front-runner for governor is Attorney General Jim Hood. He also emphasizes the need to improve education and health care, as well as infrastructure, which will help the economy. Reeves is currently in his eighth year of his tenure as lieutenant governor. He preside over the Senate and plays a key role in setting policy. He believes the state’s upward trajectory is due to his efforts. He would make sure that the state continues on this path as governor. “This election is crucial. “It is important because we have shown over the past eight years what conservative public policies can do for our state,” Reeves said at the gathering. Reeves is supported by the outgoing Republican governor. Phil Bryant is the de facto incumbent. His campaign is not focused on making new policy proposals. It is about trying to tie Hood with the national Democrats. He also focuses on the progress Hood claims the state has made in many areas, including education and the economy, while Bryant was in office. He might claim that the infrastructure issues were resolved during the 2018 August special session. The Legislature approved a lottery, with the revenue going towards infrastructure. It also transferred money previously reserved for programs like education and health care to infrastructure. He might mention that teachers received a $1500 raise during the 2019 session. His opponents claim that the infrastructure investments and teacher salaries were inadequate. Recent polls reveal that Mississippians are split on whether their state is moving in the right direction. Since Sept. 17, Chism Strategies, a Mississippi-based company, has conducted quarterly polls with Millsaps College. Respondents were asked if the state is heading in the right directions. 39% of respondents said the state was heading in the right direction, while 36% said it was headed in the wrong direction. 26% were uncertain. The breakout in the April poll was 37% right direction, 35% wrong direction, and 28% unsure. In previous polls, as many as 44 percent believed the state was headed in the right direction. However, that number has fallen in recent surveys. Tate Reeves could probably count on the 35 to 40 percent of people who think the state is moving in the right direction. He might need to do a bit more to get the votes of the rest of the electorate – and win the election._x000D