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JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — Gov. Tate Reeves’ chief of staff has been appointed to lead the Mississippi Department of Transportation.

The Mississippi Transportation Commission unanimously voted Wednesday to appoint Brad White as the executive director of the agency, effective July 1.

“Brad has a proven track record in managing government affairs on the federal level as well as the state level,” the commission’s chairman, Tom King, said in a news release. “He brings a wealth of knowledge of the legislative process and staff management. He will certainly be an asset to MDOT and we look forward to working with him to move Mississippi’s transportation infrastructure forward.”

White previously served as assistant to former MDOT Central District Commissioner Dick Hall from 1999 to 2005.

“I feel in some ways like I’m coming home. MDOT has always been a special place for me,” White said.

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The Mississippi Free Press produced this story through the MFP Solutions Lab, supported by the Solutions Journalism Network. This series digs into Mississippi’s systemic issues and sheds light on responses to them in other communities. Beyond just reporting on problems, these stories interrogate their causes and inspect potential solutions.

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