Palazzo and Taylor visit Wounded Minutemen in Purvis
United States congressional candidate Gene Taylor and 4th District U.S. Rep. Steven Palazzo, R-Biloxi, Steven Palazzo visited the Wounded Minutemen of Mississippi Golf Tournament on Monday at Pine Creek Golf Club in Purvis.
While there, both touted their qualifications for the office Palazzo currently holds. Taylor recently announced he was running as a Republican to challenge Palazzo. Taylor held that office as a Democrat for 10-terms.
Taylor, noted his help in expanding Camp Shelby’s training site and modernizing Keesler Air Force Base after Hurricane Katrina.
“We have lost ground since I left congress.” said Taylor. Taylor remarked that Mississippi military installations are in jeopardy, particularly Keesler. “Unfortunately, one of those wings is leaving soon, and that’s going to be hundreds, if not thousands of jobs from Keesler. It threatens the long-term.”
He added that he feels it makes it hard to justify having an air base if that base is losing planes. “It’s vital in our economy that we have someone in Washington who can go to bat for these installations, go to bat for these jobs. I don’t think the guy who’s in there is doing that for us.”
Palazzo, the only member of Congress concurrently serving as an enlisted member of the National Guard, said it was his service that made him stand out.
“I’ve personally been very successful in making sure our military technicians were not furloughed last year,” said Palazzo. “We’re going to continue to see people go after the military, and I’m not going to let that happen.”
WDAM
3/17/14
Magnolia Tribune
