Mississippi Press
Newly appointed senator visits Jackson County to assess needs of community
By Tyler Carter tcarter@al.com
PASCAGOULA, Miss. -- Newly appointed U.S. Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith was in Jackson County on Monday visiting various industries within the county touring facilities such as the Port of Pascagoula, and Northrop Grumman and Chevron.
"It's refreshing to see all of the expansion taking place down here," Hyde-Smith said. "The plans I have seen look very promising and I certainly want to be a part of continuing to capitalize on these improvements to keep a strong economy going here in Jackson County."
Hyde-Smith said she felt it was important to make her rounds while in the county to listen to the people and industry in the area to hear their concerns and what they felt would help improve economic opportunity in the county.
"It was important to come and visit to listen to people to hearing what the pressing issues are they would like addressed so when it is time for those concerns to be addressed, I can be aware and capitalize on those opportunities."
Local mayors in the community have pressing issues they would like to see prioritized.
For Pascagoula Mayor Dane Maxwell, the cleaning of the Mississippi Phosphates property and attempts to secure money to focus on infrastructure within the city, specifically Market Street are concerns he would like to see addressed.
Hyde-Smith said she met with Maxwell in Washington and said that while she's only been on the job three weeks, she will make the necessary attempts to meet with other mayors to hear about their needs.
"We're pretty new, but we have hit the ground running no doubt," she said. "We look forward to those opportunities we have to sit down with other mayors to assess their needs."
Being the first female senator and agriculture commissioner from Miss., Hyde-Smith says it was an honor being approached by the governor and said she looks forward to empowering other young women to be the first in various fields.
"It is a great honor and opportunity and I hope we can bring up the inspiration in other young women across the state," she said. "I just want to be here for every citizen in 82 counties to represent them to the best of my ability."