THE COMMERCIAL DISPATCH

 

Hosemann calls voter ID ‘a common-sense move'

02 October 2007
By Kristin Mamrack
kmamrack@cdispatch.com

Considering 97 percent of voters already have a driver's license or other picture identification in their wallets when they go to vote, Delbert Hosemann, a Republican candidate for secretary of state, believes implementing a program requiring voter identification is only natural.

“It seemed to be a common-sense move,” he explained Monday during an editorial board meeting at The Dispatch. “(Implementing) voters' ID (requirements) is a lightning rod, but it's only part of an overall package.”

Recognizing a need to keep party outsiders from voting in Democratic or Republican primary elections, U.S. District Judge Allen Pepper recently said the state needs to restructure its primary system and ruled Mississippi had to adopt a voters' ID program by August.

“I believe it would add integrity to the polls,” Hosemann said of requiring voters to show identification before voting, noting 24 states already employ such a program.

Hosemann recommended “federal standards” for acceptable identification, including utility bills and bank statements.

 

“I think we, in Mississippi, are perfectly capable of determining our own voter legislation,” he said. “The problem with delay is people believe there are voting integrity issues. We need to step up and destroy that image; we need to address the issue now. I'm opposed to delay.

“I don't think there is anybody in this state that doesn't believe there are voting irregularities in the state,” he continued. “Eligible electors are not going to the polls. Younger voters are becoming disenfranchised. We can't let that issue be a divisive one. It's common sense. It's really important to have a voter reform package.”

Hosemann promised to have “complete voter reform.”

“With absentee ballots and affidavits, we have significant problems,” he said. “There are ways to change to make it less likely to have fraudulent practices going on.”

Noting 400 absentee ballots already have been mailed in Lowndes County, he added, “We need to make sure disabled people have the right to vote, but we also need to make sure they meet the criteria (to vote with an absentee or affidavit ballot). When we have ballots moving around, it's a recipe for problems. Methodology helps keep ballots in the courthouse.”

He also is a proponent of early voting.

“It helps with absentee voting issues and the security of the vote,” he said, admitting the challenge will be in keeping voter machines “secure” 24 hours a day. “Early voting is something we need to explore.”

A graduate of Notre Dame, Hosemann received a law degree from the University of Mississippi and a Master of Law degree in taxation at New York University.

He currently lives in Jackson, where he is a successful business attorney, real estate developer and partner at Phelps Dunbar LLP, with offices in Gulfport, Tupelo and Jackson.

Phelps Dunbar is the law firm that represented the city of Columbus recently during a lawsuit, filed in 1992 by Columbus attorney Randolph Lipscomb on behalf of himself and about 1,500 leaseholders in the city's 16th Section.

In 2006, the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Columbus' 16th Section leases are valid contracts protected by the U.S. Constitution and state laws.

The New Orleans-based court rejected Secretary of State Eric Clark's arguments the 16th Section rental rates are illegally cheap.

The renewable-forever, 99-year leases, which first were written in the 1800s, have made the 16th Section rents lower than what's charged in other school sections in the state.

Hosemann believes the “matter (has) been finally decided.”

“It's a waste of time and money to do anything different,” he explained. “I'm not going to take any action to overturn the court's ruling.”

But he is concerned with properly managing public land leases to help fund Mississippi's schools and believes having an accurate assessment of the state's 16th Section land is key.

“You can't run any business well without knowing your inventory,” he said, noting he planned to “go to every county and take inventory” and employ resources at Mississippi State University, including satellite mapping capabilities.

“We'll have an inventory on our Web site within the first 90 days,” he promised. “(With) the terms of the lease, the price of the lease, who the tenant is and any special provisions.

“We want to build a basis for school boards to determine fair value,” he added. “I oppose proposals to sell 16th Section Land. We have elected school boards (which) bring varying degrees of capability. I think the answer is to manage it better. The secretary of state is given general supervision (over 16th Section land).

“I intend to use that to make sure we have given these school boards guidance in managing (the land). I foresee expanding training to include management for school boards. Whatever fair value is, having an inventory will help us a lot. We will know what people are getting. I see us having a more open process to the public.”

Hosemann manages his family's tree farm in Holmes County and would like the state to have a “viable business plan for the operation of timber.”

“Counties have a forester,” he explained. “Some plans are followed, some are not. There's a varying wide range (in what counties are doing). You'll see me involved with both the Mississippi Forestry Commission and private industry to (develop) the best business plans. I'm very concerned that we have a good forestry management plan and we stay with it.”

Regarding his campaign pledge to “create a more business-friendly Mississippi,” Hosemann proposed a revision of the 1987 code the state follows.

“I want to redo the business code in Mississippi to bring it up-to-date,” he said. “It needs to be a state-of-the-art, just like a computer is.”

Hosemann also suggested a “business court system.”

“Many (circuit courts) are bogged down with criminal trials,” he elaborated. “We have put expectations on circuit judges that they be experts in a corporate merger and a murder. I think you'll see a judicial system matriculate toward faster conclusions of business matters. Consequently, you'll see speedier trials.”

Circuit courts handled 45,000 cases last year, half of which were criminal, Hosemann said.

“A business court system would relieve pressure from circuit courts and we would have a docket where business matters were settled in 12 months,” he offered. “After tort reform, we want a business judicial system recognized for speed and efficiency.”

Hosemann has been married to Lynn L. Hosemann for 36 years; they have three children - Kristen, Chad and Mark - and two granddaughters, Grace and Nora Lynn.