The race for state treasurer spoke volumes about the voters in Mississippi. Race still matters in Mississippi when it comes to electing statewide officials. Voters in Mississippi have shown everyone that experience does not mean anything.
It is absurd that Mississippi has not progressed past the point where skin color does not matter. I am appalled that we have not moved into the 21st century when it comes to ideology and tolerance. Incompetence runs wild with the good ol’ boy system in place on the various levels of government.
The differences between Tate Reeves and Gary Anderson-even outside of race-are obvious. Anderson has experience and is more qualified to hold the position of state treasurer. Reeves has no political experience and has only financial experience as a portfolio manager. Reeves said in his campaign that experience does not matter. That is far from the truth.
Anderson has invaluable experience that Reeves can not match. He has been the state fiscal officer. He has experience managing the state’s organizations and their budgets. Even so, Mississippi voters elected 29-year-old Tate Reeves as treasurer.
They voted with party and for race. Fifty-two percent of the people felt that Reeves was the best candidate despite the discrepancies in experience and qualifications between the candidates.
My intent is not to bash Reeves or say he is not capable of doing the job. I imagine he is a very intelligent young man. However, common sense says experience should be a determining factor and it was ignored here. The most qualified candidate did not win this race.
This is a great opportunity that the state missed. This was a chance for voters to elect the first black candidate to a statewide office since Reconstruction. The best thing about this situation is that he was a legitimate candidate and not someone who was just pushed up to run.
The position of treasurer is important in any organization. It is especially important here in Mississippi during our time of recession and economic crisis.
The treasurer, like the governor and all other elected officials, has a daunting task ahead. He is the keeper of the books and has to know the various ways in which agencies disguise and attempt to hide money. I hope Reeves is ready for the responsibility he has decided to accept.
Imagine if both candidates were white and one was more qualified. The more qualified candidate would win the election. It is a shame that Mississippi could not do what was right and elect the most qualified candidate.
Mississippi can not move forward as a state until we get past the buddy system that we currently have in place. We have to elect competent people who have the education, desire and drive to make the state better.
I hope that the people of Mississippi will be able to see this one day. Only then will the state be able to rise out of the depths of mediocrity.
Nyerere Tryman is a graduate student in public policy and administration. He can be reached at [email protected].