As Gary Anderson heads into Tuesday's runoff election for state treasurer, he says he is encouraged by the support he has received so far.
"The way in which you spoke on election day was loud and clear," said Anderson, the state's former chief fiscal officer, while visiting the Greenwood Voters League on Wednesday night.
In the Democratic primary, Anderson won the most votes and carried 49 of the state's 82 counties, including a landslide in Leflore and victories in every other Delta county except Quitman.
And, he noted, not all the other counties where he was successful were majority black. Alcorn County, which is 7 percent black, and George County, with a 10 percent black population, backed him. These victories are heartening he says as Mississippi tries to break free of the racial divide that has marked its elections in the past.
"I really do believe that there are places in Mississippi where we really do want candidates who are qualified and candidates who are going to do a good job," he said.
If elected, Anderson would be the first black politician to hold statewide office. He faces state Sen. Rob Smith, D-Richland, in the runoff for the Democratic nomination.
Sen. Barbara Blackmon, D-Canton, another black candidate, won the Democratic nomination for lieutenant governor and faces current Lt. Gov. Amy Tuck in November's general election.
Anderson has run his campaign on his experience managing Mississippi's $10 billion budget as state fiscal officer for the last four years. That's experience state Senator David Jordan, D-Greenwood, also points to as making Anderson the best choice.
"A man of this stature who's running for state treasurer certainly can handle state money," Jordan said Wednesday night. "He's been there. He knows what he's doing, and he's the best man for the job."
Right now, Anderson said, the potential turnout for Tuesday's election is his main concern. A lot of work remains to be done, he said.
"We've got to hit the pavement once again. I appreciate what the Voters League did on Aug. 5, but we know there's a lot of shoe leather to be spent out on the streets."
