NORTHEAST MISSISSIPPI DAILY JOURNAL
Editorial
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
NORTHEAST MISSISSIPPI DAILY JOURNAL:
BARBOUR FOR GOVERNOR
Four years ago, the Daily Journal endorsed Haley Barbour for governor. We believed he could methodically and effectively move our state to a new, higher level in economic growth and jobs development in a fast-changing global economy.
Barbour succeeded.
The governor met our expectations in his leadership for prosperity, most notably of course in the role he played in partnership with allied Northeast Mississippi leaders to bring Toyota to the Wellspring Project megasite and in subsequent announcements of major suppliers in the region.
That productivity - empowered by a vast network of contacts and an experienced negotiator's knowledge of how to seal a deal - is the basis for our endorsement of Barbour, a Republican, for a second term.
Democrat John Arthur Eaves Jr., in contrast, offers only an illusory and elusive campaign of vague promises and platitudes, not leadership. ...
We hope Barbour's second term will see a melding of bipartisan support for great strides in public education, community colleges and universities because the link between effective knowledge and prosperity is inarguable and organic.
In addition to his accomplishments in economic development, a hallmark of Barbour's first term was his visible, focused and inspirational leadership after the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. That leadership was critical in pulling together state and federal resources for the long, arduous and on-going task of recovery. It has been from the beginning a bipartisan undertaking, and is a major factor recommending his re-election.
The next four years will present the governor and legislative leaders - whoever they are - the imperative of reaching across party lines to lead Mississippi to excellence, and not just adequacy, on several fronts. Barbour is the far better choice of the candidates for governor to meet the challenges ahead.
For the full story, visit the Daily Journal website: http://www.djournal.com/pages/story.asp?ID=256123&pub=1&div=Opinion