Contact: Robbie S. Ward
What would Mississippi's venerated John C. Stennis do in the context of the current national budget crisis, looming wars, and today's partisan political environment?
That's the topic for discussion by a panel of colleagues and staffers of Mississippi's former U.S. senator Thursday [Oct. 21] in Jackson.
Part of the "Stennis Experience" hosted by Mississippi State University's Stennis Institute of Government, the panel discussion of what the senator might have done in today's political climate will include representatives who interacted with him on different levels and in a variety of situations.
The panel includes:
--Former Gov. William Winter
--Former U.S. Rep. Mike Espy
-- Rex Buffington, executive director of the Stennis Center for Public Service and Stennis' former press secretary
--Frank Sullivan, staff director for U.S. Senate committees on armed services and appropriations during Stennis' chairmanships
--Bobbie Harbour, secretary of Stennis' DeKalb office
--Phil Hardwick, director of capacity at the Stennis Institute and author of an upcoming Stennis biography
--Eph Cresswell, chief of staff for Stennis from 1958-89.
The discussion will begin at 9 a.m. at the Marriott Jackson, 200 East Amite Street. While the event includes a cost for the public to attend, members of the news media are invited to attend without paying a fee.
Following the discussion, Capt. Joe Kuzmick, commanding officer of the USS John C. Stennis aircraft carrier, will speak during a luncheon at the event. Stennis Institute of Government director Marty Wiseman will present the "Look Ahead Award," a lifetime achievement honor from the institute.
MSU's Stennis Institute of Government, often called "Mississippi's think tank," provides a variety of support to government on municipal, county and state levels, including technical assistance and consultation to local governments and community leaders regarding economic and community development matters. It also provides quality research and study of public policy issues.
For more information about the "Stennis Experience," contact Stennis Institute of Government special events coordinator Dianne Dyar at 601-953-1290 or Dianne@sig.msstate.edu.