JACKSON - The Home Builders Association of Mississippi has endorsed Jackson attorney Delbert Hosemann in the Republican race for secretary of state against former Columbus Mayor Jeffrey Rupp and two others.

 

“We believe that Delbert Hosemann has the leadership and vision to create a strong business climate in Mississippi,” association executive Marty Milstead said in a statement issued Thursday by Hosemann's campaign.

 

The association is backing one of its own: Hosemann is a real estate developer and group member.

“The Mississippi Homebuilders Association and I share a very important vision: we are united in our commitment to build a better Mississippi over the next four years,” he said.

 

Along with Hosemann and Rupp on the GOP ballot for secretary of state are Rep. Mike Lott of Petal and Gene Sills of Crystal Springs. The party primary is Aug. 7.

 

Rupp said he wasn't given a chance to garner the 4,000-member state housing group's support.

“I didn't hear from them, and I certainly would have liked to have been able to make our case. We've got a compelling story to tell,” said Rupp, who served as Columbus mayor from 2001 to 2006.

 

Along with endorsements comes money. The Home Builders Association of Mississippi makes campaign contributions to their candidates.

 

“Delbert has done a good job raising money,” Rupp said. “But we think we have enough money to be competitive. We anticipate a runoff.”

 

Hosemann has accumulated more than $340,000 in campaign cash while Rupp has about $100,000, according to their finance reports reflecting candidates' cash flow through May. Lott and Sills trail behind in the race for money.

 

Rupp didn't downplay the help such endorsements provide for candidates, but he expressed confidence he'll get enough votes to make it to an Aug. 28 runoff.

 

He said he's banking on the northeast Mississippi base of voters who know him from his 16 years as a Columbus television newsman.

 

The winner of the Republican primary will face the Democratic nominee in November. Democrats running for secretary of state are attorney John Windsor of Corinth, former state senator Rob Smith of Richland and Jabari Toins of Jackson.

 

The candidates are bidding to succeed Democratic Secretary of State Eric Clark, who's not running for re-election.

 

The secretary of state is Mississippi's chief elections officer and registrar of government lobbyists. He also collects campaign finance reports and performs a variety of other duties, such as supervising public lands, regulating investment consultants and publishing the Mississippi Official and Statistic Register - the “Blue Book.”

 

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