The Democratic candidate for governor spoke briefly Wednesday night at a meeting of the Greenwood Voters League, offering only general details about his platform.
Robert Gray, a 46-year-old truck driver from Jackson, has found himself at the center of a considerable amount of media speculation since he won the nomination in early August. He has never pursued public office, has spent nothing on his campaign and said he forgot to vote in the primary.
On Wednesday, Gray spoke for less than four minutes, making general statements in support of public education, job creation and health care but offering little in terms of specifics.
“Supporting our education system is going to improve the economy. It’s not going to cost anybody any extra money,” Gray said. “Remember, I’m not the politician; everyone else is.”
Gov. Phil Bryant, a Republican, is running for re-election. Also on the ballot is the Reform Party’s Shawn O’Hara.
U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson made up for Gray’s brevity, speaking at length about racial inequality, health care and prison and education reform.
“We lock up more people in the United States, proportionally, than any other country in the world,” Thompson told the audience. He said that at a yearly cost of approximately $28,000 per inmate per year “we’ll go broke locking everyone up.”
Thompson was careful to emphasize that he was not “soft on crime” but was critical of a system that he said encourages repeat offenses and stigmatizes felons.
“Just because you’re locked up doesn’t mean you’re not a human being,” said Thompson, decrying the disappearance of programs that allow inmates to earn degrees or learn trades while incarcerated.
He noted that after being released, felons are unable to vote, apply for federal grants to attend universities or apply for Section 8 housing.
Thompson segued from prison reform into racial inequality. “Justice is supposed to be colorblind, but it’s not,” he said. “There were kids who were badder than me that didn’t look like me and didn’t have a record.”
Regarding the push to remove the Confederate emblem from the state flag, the congressman said the emblem represents “a part of our history we’re not proud of.” Many say the emblem represents racism and oppression, while others have supported keeping it as a symbol of Southern heritage.
Throughout the evening, speakers encouraged audience members to vote for Initiative 42 in November. If approved, the initiative would require the state to fund an “adequate and efficient system of free public schools” and would allow citizens to sue if funding falls short.
“It won’t solve all our educational issues,” said Frank Yates, executive director of the Mississippi Association of Educators, “but it provides a vehicle for those who want to continue the fight.”
• Contact Nick Rogers at 581-7235 or nrogers@gwcommonwealth.com.
