NESHOBA COUNTY, MS (Mississippi News Now) -
Candidates for Central District Transportation Commissioner appeared at the Neshoba County Fair Wednesday.
The incumbent, running for his third term, Dick Hall started his speech with references to two of the candidates running against him.
"One of my opponents thinks he's Elvis and another thinks he is Obama," Hall said.
After the speeches we encountered Tim Johnson, now a Madison County Supervisor, and Marshand Crisler, former Jackson City Councilman and a Democrat, to ask them how they felt about the way Hall had spoken about them.
"I think it's a compliment to be as high in office as president," Crisler said.
"I'll tell you what baby, it's got me all shook up," Johnson said.
Hall revived a proposal first seriously considered in the 1980's.
The proposal is to four lane Mississippi Highway 15 right through the center of the state from the Tennessee line to the Gulf of Mexico.
"It will affect every town it passes through and every county it passes through, and it would provide a badly needed evacuation route off of the Gulf Coast," Hall said.
Johnson accused Hall of moving to slowly in building roads.
"I want to build the roads we need today," Johnson said. "I want to move the traffic on these roads today."
Crisler said his military background and experience as a Jackson City Councilman and Hinds County deputy qualify him for the post.
"What I am prepared to do is not rest until we start getting the infrastructure in place in our great state to put it on the map for good things," Crisler said.
Dick Hall has used his bulldog in campaign commercials saying his wife says he is just like a bulldog.
Only in Mississippi could you have an Elvis impersonator running against a bulldog, for transportation commissioner.
Copyright 2011 WLBT. All rights reserved.
WLBT 3 - Fox 40
