The MSU College Democrats recently hosted more than 300
Democratic supporters, candidates and officials as they came to eat
and hear former U.S. Congressman and Secretary of Agriculture Mike
Espy speak at the annual Beans and Greens dinner.
The event was held on Feb. 24 from 6 to 9:30 p.m. in the Bost
Extension Center. The Oktibbeha County Democratic Executive
Committee and the Oktibbeha County Federation of Democratic Women
assisted the MSU College Democrats in organizing the event.
The 16th annual event began with a 6 p.m. reception followed by
dinner at 7 p.m. and a performance by the MSU Black Voices
Collegiate Choir. Shortly after the performance, Rickey Cole,
chairman of the Mississippi Democratic Party Executive Committee,
gave a short introduction of Mike Espy, a native of Yazoo City,
Miss.
Espy has led a long and distinguished career of public service,
serving as Mississippi’s second congressional representative in the
U.S. House of Representatives from 1986 to 1993. Before his
election to Congress, Espy worked for the Mississippi attorney
general and secretary of state offices.
Espy served as the U.S. secretary of agriculture from January
1993 to December 1994, making him the youngest and first
African-American to hold the position. While working at the
department, Secretary Espy focused on improving nutrition and
fighting hunger as well as improving infrastructure policy and
rural development.
During the course of the evening, Espy addressed a series of
topics including the results of the 2002 elections, national
defense, his seven-week trial in which he was exonerated of all 39
charges, the economy and the role of the party for the future.
Regarding the event, Espy commented, “I am honored to be here
among those that represent the heart and soul of the party.”
He remarked on working to make the state and people’s lives
better, stating, “We do not believe in putting the jelly jar on
just the top shelf where just a few can reach it, but rather on the
middle shelf to be within everyone’s grasp.”
Espy said that the party needed to address three factors:
gaining enough money to compete effectively, developing greater
organization to help get out the vote and improving upon the
party’s message to both maintain and draw in support.
Espy finished by stating that the party had its goals of a
universally supported message within reach by continuing to
encourage and expand its programs and policies of helping people to
pay for necessities such as health care, education and
retirement.
Clay Green, vice president of the College Democrats, remarked on
Espy’s performance during the evening, “Secretary Espy is truly an
excellent speaker. He gave a great, positive message that reminded
us to always work toward the principles that the Democratic Party
is built upon and strive to attain the unattainable. He reminded us
that we will never win all of life’s battles, but the effort that
we put forth to do and help others will always make us
successful.”
Daniel Melder, president of the College Democrats and a voice of
MSU student radio, served as the event’s master of ceremonies, and
Betty Evans served as the chair of the Beans and Greens dinner.
Monica Banks, president of the Federation of Democratic Women, and
Stephen Williams, chair of the Oktibbeha County Democratic
Executive Committee, both delivered opening comments during the
program. Clay Green provided the benediction to end the
program.
Remarking on the evening as a whole, Green concluded, “The
attendance of this year’s dinner was great–the food was great as
always, and the MSU Black Voices put on a wonderful show. Many
deserving people won awards for their service. Overall, it was one
of the best Beans and Greens that I have ever attended.”