Former West Point business owner Kenny Fowler has entered the race for the 16th District Senate seat left vacant by the death of Bennie Turner, D-West Point. Fowler will be facing Turner’s daughter, Angela Turner Lairy, prosecutor for Clay County.
“The things I feel strongest about are education and economic development,” Fowler said Friday morning. “I know everyone says that, but I have been involved with education here in West Point for a long time. I’ve volunteered a lot of my time with the school district and my wife is a former teacher.”
With the possible formation of Mississippi charter schools on the legislative agenda for next year, Fowler said he is still researching the issue.
“I’ve been doing a lot of research on the charter schools,” Fowler said. “There are some pros and cons on both sides and I’m still forming my opinion.”
Gov. Phil Bryant called for a special election after Turner’s Nov. 27 death. Turner had held the seat since its creation in 1997.
The special election will be held Tuesday, Jan. 15. A run-off, if necessary, will be held on Feb. 5. The qualifying deadline was Dec. 17.
The 16th District includes portions of Lowndes, Clay, Noxubee and Oktibbeha counties. In Lowndes County, the district extends into District 4, including a portion of the Coleman precinct, the entire Crawford precinct, the entire Plum Grove precinct and a portion of the Townsend Park precinct. In District 5, it includes the entire Artesia precinct and a portion of the Hunt precinct.
Jeff Clark was previously a reporter for The Dispatch.
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