JACKSON - While Republicans are still sweeping up the confetti from their hot-as-a-stolen-pistol primary to choose a nominee to seek the lieutenant governor's post being vacated by Lt. Gov. Amy Tuck, Democratic nominee Jamie Franks begins his campaign in earnest today.
Franks, 34, of Mooreville, is a three-term state representative, trial lawyer and small businessman. He has made clear in early joint appearances with GOP contenders Phil Bryant and Charlie Ross that he intends to hold Republican legislative leaders and Gov. Haley Barbour accountable for their policy initiatives over the last four years.
Democratic gubernatorial nominee John Arthur Eaves Jr. has to date demonstrated a rather frustrating lack of knowledge of the state budget and the legislative process sufficient to debate Barbour. But Franks - a key House Democratic floor leader - has no such deficiencies and has been on the attack since announcing his intention to seek the post.
Franks has said that his top issues will be to continue to push for a grocery tax reduction and an increase in the state's tobacco tax while also fully funding the state's education system.
"The governor has had four years to address tax relief bills, but he chose not to represent the working families and instead represented Big Tobacco," Franks said in a recent speech. "Over the past four years, the state Senate has shortchanged people by basically being a rubber stamp for the governor."
During the last four years, Franks has gone after Barbour on several fronts.
Franks has accused state Senate Finance Committee Chairman Sen. Tommy Robertson, R-Moss Point, of bottling up legislation to raise cigarette taxes and cut grocery taxes in his committee because Robertson, state Rep. Jim Simpson, R-Long Beach, and state Rep. Jim Beckett, R-Bruce, got a lucrative $1.2 million state contract to process and package Hurricane Katrina grants.
Franks also authored House Bill 1532, which would require the disclosure of investments in politicians' blind trusts. The bill was clearly aimed at Barbour, who made millions as one of the nation's top Washington lobbyists prior to seeking election as Mississippi's governor in 2003.
After winning that election, Barbour set up a blind trust for his investments.
While frequently taking on Barbour and his political associates like Robertson, Franks has also made it clear that he's no wilting Matilda Democrat. Franks attended the 2004 Democratic National Convention in Boston as a standing committee member from Mississippi.
Franks was elected to the House in 1995 at age 22 and has served in the chamber for 12 years. The Mooreville attorney is married with two children and also owns North Mississippi Horticultural Services, a landscaping business.
On the political stump, Franks always speaks of his respect for his blue collar parents and tells of working his way through college and law school by mowing lawns.
As recently as the Neshoba County Fair, Franks has demonstrated that he's the most effective Democratic campaigner who will be on the ballot in November. Franks is a good speaker who stays on message and who isn't afraid to mix it up with anyone.
Now that the GOP primary is over, Franks finds himself with a large political bullseye on his back not only from his general election opponent but from Barbour as well.
That's unlikely to unnerve Franks, for it's as if he's really been running against Barbour all along. Given the tenor of the GOP primary - in which loyalty and fealty to Barbour was the key issue - that's understandable.
