RELEASE
MSGOP MUNICIPAL CANDIDATE SPOTLIGHT
The Mississippi Republican Party has fielded candidates in more municipalities than ever before this election season, and we are proud to spotlight some of these rising stars leading up to Election Day.
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Our first Republican municipal Candidate in the Spotlight this week is Gil Earhart, Ward 1 Alderman in Olive Branch.
Mr. Earhart has over 30 years of experience in the insurance and financial services industry. He graduated from Mississippi State University with a Bachelor’s degree in Physical Education and was a successful high school and junior high coach.
Mr. Earhart is active in the community and maintains professional and civic interests serving as board member for the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors (NAIFA) of Memphis and the Olive Branch Chamber of Commerce. He also served his community as a founding member on the Board of Directors for the Olive Branch YMCA and a past board member of the Olive Branch Old Towne Preservation Society. He is a Sunday school teacher and a member of Maples Memorial United Methodist Church.
Mr. Earhart ran for Alderman because he saw a need for better public service in his area.
“Too many times I had experienced a lack of follow through on projects or issues that were important to me as a resident and as President of my homeowners’ association,” Mr. Earhart said. “Serving my fellow citizens as an Alderman is no different than serving my clients. Most people just want an honest effort to get their problems solved and a clear, concise answer to their questions.”
Mr. Earhart understands that his values have a home in the Republican Party and that those conservative principles are what make our communities great.
“I choose to be a Republican because the party has always reflected my personal values towards my country,” Mr. Earhart noted. “I believe in God as our Creator, the Constitution of the United States as it was written, a government of and by the People; and because all men were created equal, each individual should have the opportunity to work hard, pursue their dreams and live freely under the guidelines of a moral and civil society.”
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Our second Republican municipal Candidate in the Spotlight this week is Jake Windham, candidate for Mayor of Pearl.
Mr. Windham was born and raised in Pearl, graduated from Pearl High School, and went on to graduate from the University of Mississippi. He has successfully completed the Mississippi Law Enforcement Officer Training Academy Basic Class and has served in various roles within the law enforcement community, including working as a patrol officer and detective for the City of Pearl.
He also worked as a state investigator for the Mississippi Attorney General’s Office investigating complex financial crimes with the Consumer Protection Division as well as crimes of abuse, neglect, and exploitation of vulnerable persons with the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit.
Mr. Windham is running for Mayor because he wants to help Pearl realize its motto as “A City Creating Its Own Future.”
“We are currently in a bad financial position, with a deteriorating bond rating and negative fund balance,” Mr. Windham said. “Our infrastructure is also failing and basic city services are not being provided to our citizens. I believe in our city, and I know we can turn the ship around under the right leadership.”
Mr. Windham believes his conservative principles can be applied in office to help steer Pearl’s ship toward a better tomorrow.
“I am a Republican because I believe in fiscal responsibility,” Mr. Windham said. “Each person living in Pearl pays property taxes and a majority of the sales tax in our city; this makes them the chief stockholders of our city, and therefore city hall is subject to them. Our citizens should see a high return on their investment (tax dollars) and should be proud to call Pearl home.”
“I am a Republican because I believe in transparency,” Mr. Windham continued. “I believe that our government should conduct itself openly and transparently. Once again, our citizens are the chief stockholders in our city. They should be able to access public information easily. There is no reason, in this day and time, for our citizens to not know what’s going on in their government. I want to take government to the people. I want to utilize our website and social media outlets to connect with citizens to ensure they are as up-to-date as possible about their city.”
5/30/17
Magnolia Tribune
