Seven seek vacant transportation commissioner post

December 28, 2010

By KELLY DANIELS
citybeat@bellsouth.net

Seven candidates are competing in the Jan. 11 election to fill the Transportation Commissioner seat left vacant by Bill Minor.
One of them, Joey Hood, 35, worked for Minor as his top assistant since 2008.
The native of the Kirkville community in Itawamba County has worked for the Mississippi Department of Transportation for over 17 years.
Hood joined the workforce as a general service employee after graduating from Mantachie High School in 1993.
He has two children.
Minor’s younger brother, Ray Minor, 66, will also appear on January’s ballot.
Born and raised in Hickory Flat, Minor has been a small business owner for over 45 years.
Minor and his late wife, Margie, had three children and three grandchildren.
Those connections to minor also face State Rep. Warner F. McBride, 54, who chairs the House Transportation Committee.
The Courtland native’s additional committees include the following: Approprations, Conservation and Water Resources, Judiciary B, Judiciary En Banc, Local and Private Legislation, Rules,and Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks.
Having earned his bachelor degree in agricultural engineering and business at Mississippi State University.
Warner and his wife, Phyllis, have three children.
His community service includes activity in the Batesville Rotary Club, the Panola Partnership, Wildlife Mississippi and Good Hope Baptist Church, where he serves as deacon and Sunday school teacher.
Other candidates include John M. M. Caldwell Sr., Mike Taggert, Larry Lee and Dennis C. Grisham.