Education, Jobs and
Healthcare Concerns Williams
Independent
candidate Cobby Williams, a Canton, Miss. Native and resident, is challenging
longtime Rep. Bennie Thompson for the Second Congressional District seat in
Mississippi in the upcoming November elections.
On
Sunday June 3rd, I contacted Mr. Williams and we discussed his
campaign and the race for victory in November.
Mr.
Williams recently was interviewed by the Mississippi Link, and had a very interesting
interview and comments, so I caught up with “Cobby” myself and had a
interesting conversation with him as well.
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| Candidate Cobby Mondale Williams |
Candidate
Cobby Williams is pounding the pavement against Congressman Bennie Thompson of
18 years. Running against an incumbent isn’t easy. Especially when a
congressman has huge name recognition, huge finances in personal wealth and a
campaign account that is bank rolled by special interest and donors. But when
someone of Williams statue step to the plate and throws his hat in and says…..I’m
in to win for the people. That is very interesting.
For
a district that has a high poverty rate, few jobs, slow economy, very little
access to healthcare and education, Williams wants to be a servant to turn
things around.
But
here is the real question that candidate Williams has for the citizens of the 2nd
Congressional District, what have Rep. Bennie Thompson done for the district?
After researching the district I personally found numberous of issues in the 2nd
Congressional District, that needs serious answers. I spoke with Mr.Williams
about his candidacy for office and how he plan to bring about a change and
provide solutions to the district if elected, he simply replied….”I’m ready and
able”.
“I
didn’t just wake up and say, ‘I’m going to go run for this office,” “It took a long time for me through much
prayer to come to this decision.” Williams grew up in the 2nd
Congressional district and now living in Canton, Ms. knows his district very
well by working for the people, attending church, education, and being active
in the community.
Williams
believes his education background, his passion for improving the Second
Congressional District mixed with 15 years of experience working on Capitol
Hill and in the 2nd Congressional district has enabled him to run
for the congress and be effective from day one if elected.
Williams
is a graduate of Murrah High School, Jackson State University and Howard
University, and has a background as a:
•
Human Resources Specialist, U. S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM),
Washington, D.C.
•
Representative for the Department of State, America Embassy in Addis Ababa,
Ethiopia
•
Program Associate – FBI Project, National Academy of Public Administration
(NAPA), Washington D.C.
•
United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Jackson, Miss.
•
United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Washington, D.C
Williams
said he wants to be a servant for all people and not just a select few.
There
is a bottom line in solving the problems in the 2nd Congressional
District.
“The bottom line is we definitely need more
access to affordable healthcare. We need more physicians and licensed
practitioners; better access to hospitals and all of that within itself will
also help create jobs and better the quality of life.”
“We
also need more processing plants in the Delta and training programs for the
Delta as well.” Williams believe the status quo is hurting the 2nd
Congressional District, and in order to bring about change, growth and better services
to the district, that Bennie Thompson must go. Williams says he knows how the
system works, and the he has done community development as a career.”You have
to take communities and build them to make them better, say Williams”.
Williams
believes that building better communities, better roads, better schools, having
affordable healthcare, the access to physicians and medical specialists, and
getting to the table for discussions and solutions with your community leaders
is where it all begins.
In
a down economy Williams cries out where is the jobs? Williams pointed out that
the current congressman has done very little to bring quality jobs to the 2nd
Congressional District.”If you look all around nearby places outside the 2nd
Congressional District they are growing, but we are sitting idle, says Williams”.
The
young energized candidate also cited STD’s is high in the district and
healthcare is very important to deal with those type concerns, and he also pointed
out that Thompson doesn’t sit on any of those type committees that meet those
concerns in Washington, such as a healthcare committee not even a
sub-committee.
This
is a very interesting district in Mississippi with a majority African American population
and high poverty, very few educational opportunities and etc. It is important
to know that the current incumbent Rep. Bennie Thompson has voted against The
Small Business and Entrepreneurship Council Over 80% of the time. He has voted
against the Business Industrial Political Action Committee Over 70% of the
time, and the National Federation of Independent Businesses over 70'% if the time.
He has a Lifetime U.S. Chamber of Commerce Ranking of 39%.
The
contrast is the current incumbent has voted against the National Association of
Manufactures 75% of the time. Thus, no such solution was able to be created in
the 2nd Congressional District.
According
to www.govtrack.us,
It’s also very interesting to know that when democrat Rep. Bennie
Thompson was elected back in 1993, in the second quarter of that year he missed
53 votes or to say 29.3% of votes in congress. In the fourth quarter of 2000
Rep. Thompson missed 35.6% of votes in congress and even in 2008 he missed little
over 33% votes in congress. That is a large percentage of votes from a
congressman representing a district as the Mississippi 2nd
Congressional district.
It
want be easy for a young qualified candidate such as Cobby Williams to defeat
Thompson. However Williams have the determination to do the will of God for the
people, not the special interest and select few. The general election will be
held this November. The way I see Williams claiming victory in this election, is
that Williams will have to rely heavy on the youth, women and seniors in the 2nd
congressional district. Williams must also reach out across the racial lines
and pull in a majority of white voters to claim a victory in November.
Williams
is also facing Republican Bill Marcy, Lajena Williams a Reform Party candidate.
