Phil Bryant, Lieutenant Governor of Mississippi. Named Statesman of Year, American Family Radio, 2004; recipient Distinguished Alumnus award, Mississippi College Department Hist & Political Science, 1997; Henry Toll fellow, 1998.
Background
Bryant was born in Moorhead, Mississippi, and was raised in Sunflower County, Mississippi in the Delta region, the son of Dewey C. and Estelle R. Bryant. His father was a diesel mechanic. Bryant"s family moved to Jackson where his father worked for Jackson Mack Sales and was later Service Manager there.
Education
Associate of Arts, Hinds Community College, Raymond, Mississippi. Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice, University Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg. Master of Science in Political Science, Mississippi College, Clinton.
Career
He previously served as the 31st Lieutenant from 2008 to 2012 and as the 40th State Auditor of Mississippi from 1996 to 2008. Bryant, a Republican, was elected as Governor in the 2011 gubernatorial election, defeating the Democratic nominee, Hattiesburg Mayor Johnny DuPree. He was reelected in the 2015 election, defeating truck driver Robert Gray.
Foreign the United States presidential election in 2016 Bryant endorsed fellow Republican Ted Cruz.
The year he was elected to the legislature he employed himself as an insurance investigator. Bryant holds an undergraduate degree from the University of Southern Mississippi following attendance at Hinds Community College.
He earned a master"s degree at Mississippi College where he would later, before and during his early years as Governor, teach Mississippi Political History. He was the Vice Chairman of the Insurance Committee.
He sponsored the Capital Gains Tax Cut Acting of 1992.
In 1996, he was appointed to be State Auditor by Republican Governor Kirk Fordice. Bryant was elected to a full term as State Auditor in November 1999 and re-elected in 2003. In 2007, he was elected Lieutenant, defeating the Democratic Party candidate, State Representative Jamie Franks.
2011 election
He defeated Democratic nominee Johnny DuPree on November 8.
Tenure
On January 10, 2012, Bryant was sworn in as the 63rd Former Republican State Chairman Jim Herring, a lawyer from Canton, headed the transition team Once inaugurated, Bryant signed into law a bill requiring doctors at abortion clinics to have admitting privileges at local hospitals in an attempt to "end abortion in Mississippi".
The state has a single abortion clinic, served only by out-of-state doctors who lack in-state admitting privileges. Bryant"s election marked the first time since Reconstruction that a Republican had been elected to succeed another Republican as Governor.
Philosophy Bryant refused to accept this position, in fact, in February 2016, it was reported by the Jackson Free Press that Philosophy Bryant declared April, Confederate Heritage Month.
Investigative reporting into Mississippi statewide public officials" misuse of political campaign funds showed that Bryant had not made payments to himself or utilized campaign cr cards for unrelated personal spending and since 2012 the subject had spent 2.6 million on his campaign with almost as much left over.
Achievements
Membership
Active Habitat for Humanity, Mississippi Mentoring Network, Mission Mississippi. Member Government's Commission Recovery & Renewal, Law Enforcement & Fire Fighter Relief Fund. Active St. Marks United Methodist Church.
Member of National Rifle Association, Mississippi Republican Elected Officials Association (past president), National Association State Auditors (chairman bylaws committee, executive committee), Mississippi Fire Investigators Association, International Association Arson Investigators, Leadership 2000, Ducks Unlimited, Greater Jackson Law Enforcement Officers Association (president), Junior Chamber of Commerce, Reservoir Lions Club.