The Hinds County Board of Supervisors will have an advocate when the Legislature convenes tomorrow.
With District 4 Supervisor Phil Fisher as the lone dissenting vote, the board agreed to hire attorney Firnist Alexander as the county’s lobbyist.
District 5 Supervisor Kenneth Stokes, who brought the motion to hire Alexander, acknowledged that bringing in a lobbyist wouldn’t be a panacea to the county’s problems but is a step in the right direction toward presenting the county’s agenda to state lawmakers.
Fisher said board members have never discussed a legislative agenda, and had questions about how much it would cost to hire the lobbyist.
Alexander, addressing the board, suggested being paid a retainer of around $10,000 plus an hourly rate, but said the most important component of his fees would be expenses.
“It’s going to be important to wine and dine” legislators, Alexander told the board.
Alexander was a registered lobbyist for three firms in 2012: Alexander & Alexander Consultants LLC, Jubilee Mortgage Company and Mississippi Valley State University National Alumni Association, according to state records.
The Mississippi Bar Association lists Alexander as disbarred. Calls placed to telephone numbers for Alexander listed on the Mississippi Secretary of State’s and Mississippi Bar Association’s websites went to disconnected numbers.
District 3 Supervisor Peggy Calhoun, who stated the county hasn’t had much luck with lobbyists in the past, could not recall any lobbyist the county has hired who has secured legislation the county wanted. She recommended paying Alexander on a contingency basis, based on his results.
Stokes also called for the county to become more involved in development along U.S. Highway 80. Even though the city of Jackson has spearheaded the development efforts on U.S. 80, Stokes said the county takes a bigger hit when businesses shutter their doors in the corridor because the county does not receive sales taxes.
“If we allow Highway 80 to continue to decline, it’s going to be a sad day for this county, not just the city. We need to do everything in our power to keep Highway 80 from declining more,” Stokes said.
Previous Comments
Nothing says trust me with an open bar tab at Tico’s like being disbarred. Facepalm.
#1679 | Author: robbier | Date: Jan 7 2013
Well, nothing should surprise anyone anymore regarding the behind-the-doors shenanigans this board proposes. At one point in an interview, Mr. Stokes states that Mr. Alexander was “one of the greatest minds in law.” This would be laughable on its face, as Mr. Alexander repeatedly demonstrated malfeasance as a practicing attorney (thus leading to his disbarment), but to come out of the pie hole of Mr. Stokes (who has never passed the bar exam) makes it farcical at best. At worst, it represents the stagnant cronyism that Hinds County has become…
#1680 | Author: darryl | Date: Jan 8 2013
I, for one, applaud the Hinds Co. BOS for their commitment to diversity…
#1681 | Author: bill_jackson | Date: Jan 8 2013
1. Robert Graham – repeated mischaracterization of his actual job title (by impersonating a JPD officer), dodgy finances concerning his ‘expertise’ as an emergency communications professional and shady dealings with Airwave and Northstar that have led Hinds into a financial downward spiral… 2. Doug Anderson – medically and physically incapable to perform the duties to which he was elected to…not that his Ward cares, which brings us to – 3. Kenneth Stokes – a law school graduate who can’t practice law; a buffoon of the highest order who, through the ignorance of his Ward actually got a *promotion* from the City Council to the BOS. Every single thing he has done in these positions has been disastrous and reckless. Congratulations, Hinds County…
#1682 | Author: darryl | Date: Jan 8 2013
And folks wonder why people cannot move to Madison or Rankin County fast enough. Congratulations, indeed, Hinds County. You’ve made your bed, now lie in it.
#1683 | Author: bill_jackson | Date: Jan 8 2013
**Hinds County … A World of Difference!** /sarcasm
#1684 | Author: JLucas | Date: Jan 9 2013
Not sure what’s worse – having the BOS create a position out of thin air, nominate/vet (inaccurately, as it turned out)/affirm someone within 10-minute session or, when the big bully Mr. Stokes is out of the building, turn around and rescind the nomination and job position. I mean, damn.
#1694 | Author: darryl | Date: Jan 10 2013
Darryl, you make some good points. But I know you know that our suburbs aren’t exactly immune to buffoonery (and perhaps a bit of corruption) in its elected offices. We’re going to have fun when we have enough resources to cover *those* city and county governments as well.
#1695 | Author: Donna Ladd | Date: Jan 10 2013
Donna, I agree. This is Mississippi after all and cronyism, white and black, happen all over the place. But, as this is the capitol of our state and the most populated county within said state, it is a shame that it exists to this degree of buffoonery. Outside of Kingfish, there is very little coverage of the surrounding areas. I would also hope that with the increased media coverage of the surrounding populace, they would be more up on their “P’s and Q’s” than Jackson/Hinds. They believe that they are above public scrutiny – and they are because THEY KEEP GETTING ELECTED…
#1696 | Author: darryl | Date: Jan 11 2013
