By Rupert Howell

Both runoff candidates for the District 11 Mississippi House seat made vacant with the untimely death of Rep. Joe Gardner have been taking advantage of opportunities to get out their message before the runoff election Tuesday, April 16.

The candidates appeared at Batesville Courthouse last Tuesday where members of Panola County Democratic Executive Committee and other Democrats heard candidates Anderson Boothe and Lataisha Jackson’s pleas for support.

Both candidates spoke of education and economic development as highest priorities.

Boothe called for more job training and development stating that “Do you have a trained workforce,” is one of the first questions asked when industrial developers are scouting for locations.

He said that he would focus on getting the word out about existing opportunities citing a recent training workshop in Batesville when only four people attended.

“We have to take advantage of existing training opportunities,” he said.

Jackson said that education was her first priority and said she envisioned 21st Century Learning Centers in small communities throughout the district that would offer services such as after-school tutoring and summer enrichment.

Taking a different angle on economic development, she told the crowd of approximately 25 Democrats that she would encourage empowering more small business, letting it be the hub of economic development.

District 11 consists of a portion of Tate County, most of the northern portion of Panola County as well as the western portion of the southern end of Panola County including portions of Batesville. The House seat runoff is Tuesday, April 16.

The forum was held in conjunction with a forum with three Batesville Democratic mayoral candidates. That primary election is Tuesday, May 7.