Now that Super Tuesday has passed across the nation, Mississippi is one of six states in the next set of primaries coming up Tuesday.
Polls all across Marion County will be open from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. on Tuesday.
On the national level is the presidential primary. On the Democratic ticket, 10 candidates are on the ballot, although all but three of them have ended their campaigns. The two main contenders are former Vice President Joe Biden and U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders; the third is U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii.
On the Republican side, incumbent President Donald Trump faces nominal competition from relative unknowns “Rocky” De La Fuente and Bill Weld.
For a United States Senate seat, Republican incumbent Cindy Hyde-Smith is running unopposed on the Republican ticket, and on the Democrat side there is Mike Espy, who was defeated by Hyde-Smith in a special election two years ago, along with Tobey Bernard Bartee and Jensen Bohren.
For the U.S. House of Representative for the 4th Congressional District, three Republican challengers are running against incumbent Steven Palazzo: Carl Boyanton, Robert L. Deming III and Samuel Hickman. There is no one running on the Democrat side, so the Republican nominee will win the seat.
Boyanton, Hickman and Deming came to The Columbian-Progress to be interviewed, and Palazzo submitted answers to questions emailed to him. The following are the responses each provided.
Steven Palazzo
Palazzo, 50, is running for a sixth two-year term in the district that includes southeast Mississippi. He said when he ran 10 years ago he wanted to put South Mississippians first and believes he has kept that promise. He said he supports President Trump’s America first agenda, and to protect South Mississippi from the Pelosi-Sanders socialist policies that will wreck our country.
He said his highest responsibility is to provide for the common defense. During the Trump administration the devastating defense cuts have been restored and have invested heavily in veterans care and service, according to Palazzo.
Palazzo said he is hoping if reelected to continue to work with President Trump to put Americans and Mississippians first. He stressed it was critical for the president to be reelected and for the Republicans to take back the House of Representatives and keep the Senate.
Samuel Hickman
Hickman, 24, is from Picayune and worked for two years with U.S. Rep. Trent Kelly. His work with Kelly began with him as a staff assistant and worked his way up to legislative assistant. He was in charge of the Small Business Committee for Kelly.
Hickman is running on taking family values to Washington, D.C. His father is a preacher, and he is one of 11 boys. He said he believes good ideas flow from the district to D.C. and you have to be able to communicate with everyone both in Mississippi and in Washington.
If elected Hickman said he wants transparency. One way he believes to achieve this is to hold Town Hall meetings all over the district.
Carl Boyanton
Boyanton, 61, is also from Picayune. He has been married for 25 years, has two daughters and is a businessman in the produce industry. He said he feels one of the biggest issues is the need for term limits to get the career politicians out. He said he thinks one of the reasons why not much is getting accomplished is because it’s the same people in office for years who believe it should be their way.
Boyanton said he feels he can bring businesses to Mississippi. He said he has connections all of over the country to help with this and he felt like it was time for him to give back to Mississippi. He said he was not looking for a career.
Robert Deming III
Deming, 43, is from Biloxi. He is the president of the Biloxi City Council and a lawyer. He said he believes strongly in family values. He has an economics degree from the University of Southern Mississippi.
Deming said he has been thinking for a while about running and felt like the time was right. He said he wants to get the financial house in order. He said President Trump announced that he could get the budget in order with the right people and Deming feels like he is good for the job.
Deming also said he wants to work with local governments to help each community to excel.
All of the candidates were asked two questions
1. How do you think you can make a difference with all the bickering going on in Washington between the Democrats and Republicans?
Palazzo: “As a senior member of the House Appropriations Committee, I am still able to deliver accomplishments for Mississippi. For Columbia, I was able to use my position to help secure funds to expand the Columbia-Marion County airport runway extensions and rebuild the National Guard Armory.”
Hickman: “Work on building relationship with people from both parties.”
Boyanton: “One reason to push for term limits. There is a power struggle. We need to focus on what we can agree on.”
Deming: “Build relationships and understand everyone have different mindset.”
2. How can Marion County be assured it is not ignored to focus more on the coastal counties?
Palazzo: “I work each day for every part of my district and for every constituent. I take the responsibility seriously and promise to continue to do so.”
Hickman: “That is why it is important to hold Town Hall meetings. It allows for dialogue from everybody.”
Boyanton: “It is important to help the smaller cities as well as the larger ones and bring businesses to the smaller communities as well.”
Deming: “The whole district is my county. I believe in doing Town Hall meetings every three months.”
For up-to-date election results after polls close Tuesday evening, visit columbianprogress.com.
