Former state Rep. Rob Roberson announced Tuesday he will seek Mississippi’s District 43 House of Representatives seat in the 2015 election.
Roberson, a Republican, represented District 37 about a decade ago and previously served as a Starkville alderman.
Qualification for a variety of countywide seats begins Jan. 2, and candidates have up until 5 p.m. March 1 to throw their hat into the race.
Next year’s party primaries are scheduled for Aug. 4, while runoffs will be held 21 days later. The general election will be held Nov. 3. Nov. 24 is reserved for special runoffs as needed.
As redrawn by the Legislature, District 43 includes portions of Oktibbeha — the Adaton, Sturgis and Longview areas — and Winston counties.
Roberson’s announcement is the first such for the district. Oktibbeha County Democratic Party Chairman Chris Taylor said he was unaware of any local Democrats that are expected to announce similar intentions.
A Starkville High School and Mississippi State University graduate, Roberson went on to receive his Juris Doctorate from Mississippi College’s law school. He operates Roberson Law Firm and Bulldog Development LLC.
Roberson said he, if elected, will use his previous experience as a state representative to help promote and improve the unique potential Oktibbeha County has in terms of economic development with a major institution of higher learning and research in its own backyard.
“Economic development and education are everything, and we’re a unique area in the sense of needing someone to count on to support our university that, in turn, supports us with job creation,” he said. “My hope and prayer is that we can take care of this advantage and use it to the best of benefit, while protecting the lifestyle of how we want to live here.”
Specifically, Oktibbeha County’s best long-term bet for economic success is to attract more blue-collar jobs that will allow residents to transition from the service industry and support themselves and families with better wages, he said.
“I think (Golden Triangle Development LINK CEO) Joe Max Higgins and Joey Deason (Oktibbeha County’s LINK representative) are doing a good job, but they can’t do it by themselves. They need local leaders to back them up,” Roberson said. “A lot of people who come to Mississippi State would love to stay here and build their lives. When you’re able to give them a job — not just a job, but one that pays a good, working salary — they’re able to keep their families here. It benefits our public schools and our tax base.
“If you think about it: If you’re going to move to Mississippi, Starkville is one of the top two or three places you’d want to be. In terms of the opportunity for future growth, it’s No. 1,” he added. “The potential is there, but we have to do it right. We have to have people putting in the time and willing to make the sacrifice. There’s nothing more beautiful than watching a community grow the right way, build jobs and have families that are able to thrive and create other generations.”
Roberson and his wife, Karen, have four children: Kelly, Marley, Jack and Eli.
Carl Smith covers Starkville and Oktibbeha County for The Dispatch. Follow him on Twitter @StarkDispatch
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