Posted on 11/16/2006 9:34:15 AM PST by Anti-Hillary
GOVERNOR HALEY BARBOUR NAMED 2006 PUBLIC OFFICIAL OF THE YEAR
(Jackson, Mississippi) - Governor Haley Barbour has been named the nation’s most outstanding governor and a 2006 Public Official of the Year in recognition of his resourcefulness and cool-headed leadership in the face of Hurricane Katrina.
The award was given by Governing magazine, an independent, Washington, D.C.-based magazine devoted to coverage of state and local government. Governor Barbour will accept the award tonight at a dinner in Washington.
“I am honored to receive this award from Governing magazine, but Marsha and I feel it is more a tribute to the people of Mississippi because of the character, resilience, courage and selflessness they displayed after Hurricane Katrina,” Governor Barbour said. “I graciously accept this award on their behalf.”
Governor Barbour is profiled in the November issue of Governing for “being straight with the facts about the utter devastation in the area, but also for his own demeanor in public appearances that suggested the state would summon the will to rebuild.” The profile, titled “Steady in a Storm,” credits Governor Barbour for putting his state on a road to recovery, as evidenced by the prompt reopening of public schools and the unprecedented provision of temporary housing for more than 100,000 residents.
“It was because of Governor Barbour’s amazing leadership that he has shown in managing the State of Mississippi after we suffered the largest natural disaster in this nation’s history that compelled me to nominate him for this award,” state Auditor Phil Bryant said. “No public official in America deserved this prestigious award more than our Governor, Haley Barbour."
The article also highlights Governor Barbour’s erasing of a $700 million-plus budget deficit without raising taxes, his increase of state spending on K-12 and higher education, boosting job training and economic development programs, and his successful promotion of broad policy changes, including a tort reform measure that has been hailed as one of the most successful in the nation.
This year’s group of nine recipients of Public Official of the Year 2006 awards represents the thirteenth to be honored in Governing’s annual awards program, which was launched in 1994.
This is the man we need to run!!!
Read his bio:
Early on in his administration, Governor Barbour identified job creation as one of his top priorities. He led the fight against lawsuit abuse in Mississippi and his initiative, the Tort Reform Act of 2004, was hailed as the most comprehensive civil justice reform in the nation after it passed the Legislature. He also initiated and the Legislature passed the largest overhaul of workforce development efforts in state history and doubled state funding for job training.
Governor Barbour organized and the Legislature passed “Momentum Mississippi” – the state’s long-range economic development strategy. In his first year in office, Mississippi had the largest increase in net new jobs since 1999 and the largest increase in personal income since 1998.
Governor Barbour’s public education initiative, known as UpGrade, was approved in the 2006 legislative session and heralded as Mississippi’s most comprehensive education reform legislation in almost 25 years. The new law rewards teacher and school performance, reduces state bureaucracy and strengthens discipline in Mississippi public schools. He also secured additional state funding in fiscal year 2007 for public education from K-12 through community colleges and the state’s universities and colleges.
In the area of law enforcement, Governor Barbour has re-focused Mississippi on the fight against drugs by advocating tougher crystal meth laws and reorganizing the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics. As a result, drug arrests are up 73 percent during his term.
Governor Barbour has also led the fight to save Mississippi’s Medicaid program for truly needy recipients, emphasizing preventative care and implementing the strongest anti-fraud plan in the history of Mississippi Medicaid. Reforms are saving the state hundreds of millions of dollars.
Additionally, Governor Barbour has worked to protect the unborn. He initiated and the Legislature passed six Pro-Life laws during 2004 that make Mississippi “the safest place in America for an unborn child,” according to national right-to-life organization, Americans United for Life.
Governor Barbour founded and formerly served as Chair and CEO of Barbour Griffith and Rogers, which Fortune magazine ranked the nation’s top lobbying firm.
From 1993 to January 1997, he served two terms as Chairman of the Republican National Committee, including during the 1994 elections when Republicans won GOP control of both houses of Congress for the first time in forty years and the number of Republican governors rose from 17 to 32.
In the mid-‘80’s, Governor Barbour advised President Ronald Reagan for nearly two years as Director of the White House Office of Political Affairs.
Barbour received his law degree from Ole Miss in 1973. He and his wife Marsha have been married 33 years and have two adult sons, both of whom are married. On December 22, 2005, the Barbour's first grandchild, Adyn Sterling Barbour, was born. Governor Barbour is a deacon in the First Presbyterian Church of Yazoo City, where he has also taught Sunday School.
First Lady Marsha Barbour is an advocate for early childhood education and has embraced numerous projects that emphasize the importance of life-long learning.
MISSISSIPPI PING
I LOVE THIS GUY~~~~~~
Good Lord! We need to get this man out in the public eye, front and center!!!!
You know, Haley might make a good president.
Barbour / Romney '08!
Gov. Barbour impresses me, as well. However, my Ex-Governor, Tommy Thompson, is forming an exploratory committee for '08 as well, and he'd make a great President, once people got to know him. :) His wife is perfect for First Lady, as well.
What's Mrs. Barbour like?
Would he run for President? or does he love Mississippi too much to leave? He may not want to deal with the nonsense that makes up Washington, D.C.
Anyone want to start a petition drive?????
OOPS! Just read that last line of his bio.
May he be the next POTUS.
Now this is someone I could get behind in 2008 if we could get him to run.
I like Barbour, but have you listened to him; he sounds like an extra from 'Gone with The Wind'. I don't think he plays on a national stage. He would be a good pick for the vp slot in 08.
note: I am from the south, so I can say that.
I like the way you think. Barbour a Southern Governor, and Romney a New England Governor. Wow, would that cause the Democrats to change underwear or what?
Great man - no doubt - I do not however think he has the aspiration to be President.
You have to be possessed to after the job.
Romney, from the land of Kerry & Kennedy won't fly in flyover country.
I'm sorry, but I can't understand how they could pass over Mayor Noggin, Governor Blankhead, and Senator Landrieu for this award..... surely these leading Louisiana politicians showed the country and the world what real quality leadership is all about.... to ignore the stellar, historic performance of the Demaogogues of Louisiana is a travesty!!
Me too.
DIana, of the ones who have "Declared" so far, Tommy has my support by far. I would love to see him get the nomination, especially over the likes of Guiliani, mcInsane, and Romney.
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