Campaign Debate candidate Ronnie Musgrove,
publisher Scott Coopwood,
candidate Mike Parker
    CLEVELAND - With only one month to go before the November 2 general elections, candidates for Mississippi governor squared off in a recent live, statewide televised debate.
    Former Republican congressman Mike Parker and Democratic Lt. Governor Ronnie Musgrove took the stage September 29 in the Bologna Performing Arts Center at Delta State University in Cleveland.
 The Delta Business Journal and WABG TV (Greenwood-Greenville) sponsored the one-hour debate attended by Delta area residents, community and business leaders, farmers and students.
    Viewers across the state also had the opportunity via live hookups to see the candidates in this first such face-to-face meeting of the men in Campaign `99 vying for Mississippi's post.
    Scott Coopwood, publisher of the Delta Business Journal, moderated the debate.
Serving as guest panelists who asked questions of the candidates were Jamie Ferguson, news anchor for WABG in Greenville; John Johnson, director of news and communications at WTOK TV in Meridian; and Steve Stewart, publisher of The Clarksdale Press Register in Clarksdale.
    Coopwood told the audience that the debate was an opportunity for Mississippians "to get a closer look at the two candidates."
    From Musgrove's opening statement, he wasted little time in making barbs to Parker while Parker reminded Musgrove of his campaign pledge to debate the issues and not run a negative campaign.
    Musgrove said he "was the real deal with Mississippi experience and Mississippi know-how."
    He went on further to address themes of educational improvement and successes in recent educational reforms from the legislature along with a trained workforce were "an absolute essential for success."
    Parker countered that "the people of Mississippi want us to talk about the issues" which included accountability and improving the state's educational system. He also felt that in the education area, students in the state were "not getting a quality education. I'm sorry to say we're not getting that."
    Panelists asked questions of the candidates which they then had two minutes to respond to with a brief period for rebuttal.
    Ferguson asked about changing the state flag which bears the symbol of the Confederacy.
    Parker responded that "No, I will not support changing the flag. Changing the state flag was not going to resolve anything."
    The flag issue was not one foremost in the minds of Mississippi voters, but issues such as education, economic development and responsibility were and the candidates should focus on issues that would make a difference, "not on symbols."
    "We don't need to be spending our time and energy on this. We need to spend our time on issues that will make a difference," said Musgrove.
    The issue of health care for Mississippi residents was brought up with both candidates in support of health care reform in the state and making sure all Mississippians have access to quality health care.
    "One of the biggest problems we have in this country is health care," said Parker. "Health care is an issue with economic development connotations. The state has to be very active and proactive (on this issue) - especially in the Delta."
    "We need to make sure our rural areas have more quality health care available to them," said Musgrove.
    He also pointed to the recent passage by the state legislature of the Mississippi Children's Health Insurance Program which has helped address health issues - especially for children.
    Perceived resegregation in the state's school system was brought up by Stewart, and what can state government do to reverse this trend.
    Parker responded that the government can address this matter by providing quality education in the public schools. The lack of a perceived public education by many taxpayers has force them to send their children to institutions where they believe the children get a better, quality education.
    Getting rid of teachers who weren't making the grade and supporting those teachers who are qualified with a better pay package was also essential to the future of Mississippi public education.
    Musgrove said that putting quality teachers in the classroom and paying them a better wage would help, and not just talk about doing this.
    "We need good teachers in the classroom. We don't need rhetoric," said Musgrove.
    He went on say that reducing classroom size and putting computers on every desk would help, and that "there's more accountability today than ever before."
    And should voters be required to provide voter identification when they vote?  On this issue, Parker was emphatic.
    "Voter ID is very much needed," said Parker. "I would love to see an open primary. It's extremely important for our state."
 Musgrove, on the other hand, said the problem was with absentee ballots and cleaning the voter rolls and not with whether someone shows identification when they vote.
    "I'm not in favor of voter ID," he said.
    The candidates will continue the debate process with four other debates scheduled before the election in Columbus, Tupelo, Biloxi and Jackson. Back