This year’s election race for state treasurer has produced two similar candidates with many concurring viewpoints.
Both of the state treasurer candidates have said if elected their main goal is to focus on Mississippi’s budget problems.
Tate Reeves is the Republican candidate. He said one of his top priorities is for the office of the treasurer to take a more active role in the state’s budgeting process.
Likewise, Gary Anderson, the Democratic candidate, said he wanted to “favorably impact our budgetary situation.”
Each candidate boasts a variety of previous job-related experience.
Reeves said his intense background in economics, finances and investment management have “mirrored the duties of state treasurer.”
Anderson cited his previous experiences as one of his strengths. Gov. Ronnie Musgrove appointed him the state’s chief fiscal officer. Anderson has also served as deputy director of the state’s economic and community development (now known as the Mississippi Development Department).
Perhaps one of the biggest concerns for the state is the current budget deficit. Both candidates support dealing with this crisis with similar ideas.
Reeves said in order to fight Mississippi’s current budget crisis the state treasurer could take politics out of the revenue estimation process.
“I believe one must elect a businessman and not a bureaucrat to the office of treasurer,” Reeves said.
Anderson said he continues to advocate consistent conservative revenue estimates, and also added that he would like for the state to “live within our means.”
Reeves and Anderson agreed that their campaigns should appeal to students since they both want to help foster good business relations and opportunities for recent college graduates.
Reeves said the citizens of Mississippi are looking for someone who will bring a sense of energy and passion, as well as new ideas, to the state government.
“For college students in particular,” Reeves said, “my focus is on creating a more business friendly environment in Mississippi to improve the economic development and to create more jobs.”
Anderson also said that he would like to help better the quality of life in the state.
“Students would like to have a choice whether or not to live and work in Mississippi,” Anderson said, “And to have a good quality of life to enjoy.”
One key issue within the office of the treasurer is to keep the state’s bond ratings high. Both candidates agreed that the state’s practice of taking “one-time money” and spending it on continuous costs should be stopped.
Reeves said he wanted to protect the state’s credit ratings, and one way to accomplish this is to stop the practice of using the “one-time money” for use on current state expenses.
Anderson agreed with this, and also said another way to help maintain the state’s high bond ratings would be to encourage the legislature to develop a one-year debt management plan, which bond raters view favorably.