The Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal, 12/26/8
One year ago Billy McCoy was engaged in the fight of his political life, challenged by Columbus attorney Jeff Smith for speaker of the Mississippi House of Representatives.
On the 2008 session’s opening day in early January, the Rienzi Democrat squeaked out a 62-60 victory over Smith to capture a second term as House speaker, considered one of the state’s most powerful political positions.
Almost one year since that dramatic razor-thin re-election, the 66-year-old Prentiss County farmer said he has not ruled out running in 2011 for a ninth term to the House and third term as speaker, a position that does not have term limits.
“I think about it – like I always do,” McCoy said recently in response to a question about his political future. “I haven’t made my mind up. I always wait until closer to the end of the term.
“One thinks about it as you are going along, but you don’t make a decision until the proper time, which is near the end of the term.”
Magnolia Tribune
