Dupree sits down with Hattiesburg American ed board

Dupree sits down with Hattiesburg American ed board

Hattiesburg Mayor Johnny DuPree says he initially had no intentions of ever running for governor.

“After the 2009 (city) elections… a number of people came by and talked to me about running, (and) I just dismissed it,” DuPree told members of the Hattiesburg American editorial board on Wednesday.

DuPree said he first tried encouraging others to enter the race, which proved unsuccessful.

After evaluating the potential contenders for the state’s highest office, DuPree told the board he came to the realization that he could do the job just as well as any of them, prompting the three-term mayor’s first run for a statewide race.

Hattiesburg American
10/19/11