Flaggs is a Democratic first-term mayor and has previously served 25 years as a legislator in Mississippi. He expressed hope that lawmakers would vote to distribute BP settlement money to all areas of the state. The 2017 regular legislative session will be a heated battle between lawmakers from the Coast. There are no known exceptions to this rule and all parties support the decision that the majority of the $750m settlement should remain in the coastal counties. Other officials from the state and local governments want to use the money for any projects they feel are necessary. Flaggs is seeking $1.5 million for Vicksburg, which is the 16th-largest city in the state and relies heavily upon tourism revenues from Vicksburg National Military Park, casinos and other venues. Flaggs stated Monday at the Stennis Press Club luncheon that BP money must be distributed statewide. The BP oil disaster affected everyone. It stopped tourism along the Coast, but it also stopped it along the Delta and Mississippi rivers.” The $150 million first part of the BP settlement arrived in July after lawmakers allocated $41 million in March to specific projects in the coastal counties. The $109 million remainder is currently in state treasury and available. The governor will decide how to spend it. Phil Bryant stated in April. This question will likely be raised in the next legislative session. Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves hosted two of the three planned town halls along the Coast to discuss the BP money. Reeves has made promises to Coast residents that he will try to get as much settlement as possible. He has also heard from residents their ideas about how the money should be spent. Many Coast lawmakers expressed concern that their fight to retain the majority of funds would be successful. A bill that would have used a large portion of the settlement for road and bridge repairs across the state was passed by the House with a vote of 101-20. Later, the bill was defeated. The lawmakers promised that they would introduce similar bills in 2017. The issue cannot be delayed as BP payments trickle into the state treasury. The state will receive $40 million per year from 2019-2033, after receiving $150 million from BP. BP will also pay $750 million to federal officials for the purpose of mitigating the environmental damage caused by the Gulf Coast spillage. Reeves stated last month that the vast majority of damages caused by the spillage occurred on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. “It’s the right thing for us to do,” he said. This is a difficult task. This will not be an easy task. We will need to collaborate with our colleagues to show how the state can grow its economy. Flaggs believes that the tourism fund will continue helping Vicksburg to attract tourists. The Vicksburg Board of Mayor and Aldermen approved construction of a $13 million water park next to the outlet mall in September. With the approval of the Legislature, the Mississippi Department of Transportation will begin construction of new roads to better connect the outlet mall to Interstate 20. Flaggs also addressed other issues Monday. * He didn’t clarify whether he would run in 2019 for the state office, but he stated that he will be running in 2017 for the Vicksburg mayoral re-election. He stated that it was impossible to run for two offices simultaneously. “If there is an opportunity to run for statewide office in 2019, then I’ll be looking at it.” * He believes Vicksburg should be the port destination for raw materials shipping to the new Continental Tire plant located in western Hinds County. * He praised Vicksburg’s recent financial success by pointing to his conservative fiscal views that he learned while in the Legislature._x000D