State representative talks campaign, issues following primary victory
Democratic incumbent state Rep. Chiekh Taylor defeated fellow Democrat and challenger Lisa Wynn Tuesday in the Primary Election, and following the result, Taylor said his victory was indicative of a change of tone in politics.
Taylor said attempts to bring the campaign down into the mud fell flat, noting it "could've gotten very dirty," because constitutes of District 38 rejected messages of division and mudslinging. Taylor said he believes this race is the beginning of a transformation across the state due to people being tired of politicians speaking without civility.
"You have to be above the fray," Taylor said. "The Trump-like tactics won't work anymore. I see a lot of change in this state, and I see it for the positive."
Tuesday's race was a rematch between Taylor and Wynn, who both ran in 2017 for the District 38 seat in the Taylor
Mississippi House of Representatives after former Rep. Tyrone Ellis retired. In 2017, Taylor avoided a runoff by garnering 62% of the votes.
This week's race saw voters once again choosing Taylor. The incumbent representative received 76% of the votes from Tuesday's primary, earning his first full term in the state capitol.
Taylor said victory allowed him to continue fighting for the best interests of his constituents.
"I am ecstatic," Taylor said. "I never took any of this stuff as a personal win. This is a job of service."
Regarding his constituents and the broader population of Mississippi, Taylor said he knew people were struggling and needed representation guided by humility, as Taylor admitted he was frequently fact checked by constituents and invited them to do so.
"We (politicians) don't know everything about every issue," Taylor said. "I encourage fact checking. Those are the kind of constituents I interact with a lot."
Taylor said his role as a representative was to get the best bill possible when working with other elected officials, adding that bills often contain far more than the law's name might indicate and arguing each representative should be students of legislation.
"Each piece of legislation we pass has the ability to help or harm," Taylor said. "Sometimes it does both at the same time."
AGRICULTURE
Taylor reaffirmed his belief that agriculture had an important role to play in Mississippi's statewide economy, though he acknowledge parts of the agriculture sector were suffering.
According to the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce, agriculture remains Mississippi's number one industry, generating over $7 billion and employing 29% of the state's workforce directly or indirectly.
Looking forward, Taylor said he expected two cash crops to be voted on by state legislators and introduced into the state to continue growing the industry.
"I want to make sure we're attracting new farmers," Taylor said.
One of the crops Taylor expects to be a boon for farmers is hemp. Lawmakers did not legalize hemp's cultivation in a vote after the federal government loosened restrictions on the plant earlier this year, but Taylor expects that to change.
Hemp, while related to marijuana, does not have large amounts of THC, the chemical compound that brings marijuana smokers their high. Instead, hemp has uses in insulation, textiles and rope as a hardy material.
The biggest change for hemp has come in the last few years as cannabidiol oil, CBD, has grown into a billion dollar industry. Consumers use CBD to treat a variety of ailments including anxiety, insomnia and chronic pain, though the FDA has only approved one Cbd-infused drug.
EDUCATION
Increasing funding for public education remains a key priority for Taylor moving forward, saying he believes the best course for the state to grow is to continue improving the public school system.
Taylor has previously voiced his support for the recent teacher pay raise of $1,500, which went into effect last month.
However, Taylor has also criticized the raise as being short of what he felt teachers should earn, saying what the teachers received was at least greater than the original Republican plan of $500 last month at a candidate forum in Starkville.
At the same forum, Taylor said he originally hoped to see a pay raise closer to $4,000 to help Mississippi catch up to the Southeastern average teacher salary, which is $51,000 annually.
Before the raise, teachers in Mississippi earned an average of $44,659 per year, according to the Mississippi Department of Education.
Taylor also said education guided his vote on the lottery bill passed last year. Taylor said he initially voted no to the bill and only changed his vote when education was included.
The bill allows for a lottery to be implemented in the state. Proceeds up to $80 million each year will be put into a fund for state roads and bridges. Proceeds above the $80 million make will go toward public education, through the Education Enhancement Fund.
Projections for the first year of the lottery have the state netting $40 million then between $80-$100 million the following year.