Education wins out over experience for Hinds EOC position - MSNewsNow.com - Jackson, MS

Education wins out over experience for Hinds EOC position

Hinds County will have a new Emergency Operations Center director beginning October 15.

Mark Young is a lifetime resident of Hinds County. Young has two master's degrees in hazardous material management and emergency management, and a bachelor's degree in biology.  

He was picked over the temporary director Joey Perkins who had been in charge at Emergency Operations through preparations for Hurricane Isaac. Perkins had been praised by board president Robert Graham for the job he did.   

We asked former emergency manager Larry Fisher, who held the position for 20 years and originally hired Perkins, if he was qualified.

"If he hadn't been qualified I wouldn't have hired him. I think he was very qualified for the job." 

Fisher told us he does not have a college degree. 

"I wish I had a master's degree, but I don't so I will put my master's degree in hard knocks," said Fisher. 

Perkins was publicly attacked by supervisor Kenneth Stokes because he did not have a college degree. 

Stokes asked, "What is the highest level of education you have?"  

"A high school degree," Perkins responded. 

"You know you are up against somebody with a master's degree? said Stokes. 

We were unable to reach Young for comment. Perkins turned us down for an interview.  

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