NEWS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 3, 2007                                                                                                                                                                                            

MMA-PAC Endorses Stacey Pickering for State Auditor

Laurel, Miss.  — The Mississippi Manufacturers Association Political Action Committee (MMA-PAC) has endorsed Stacey Pickering for State Auditor.

“Stacey Pickering understands manufacturing because he came to the Legislature from Howard Industries of Laurel, one of our state’s largest homegrown manufacturing firms. As a senator, he worked to end lawsuit abuse and bring manufacturing jobs to the state. As state auditor, he will work to improve the performance and the accountability of state government. The MMA Political Action Committee’s decision to support Stacey for state auditor was an easy one. We look forward to continuing our close working relationship with him as state auditor,” said MMA President and CEO Jay C. Moon, CEcD, FM.

“As your next state auditor, I’ll continue to support issues that improve Mississippi, creating better jobs, great communities to live in and strong educational opportunities for our young people.  Businesses across our state need leaders that are well-versed in economic development strategies and that understand all the aspects that contribute to economic growth. As Chairman of the Local and Private Committee in the State Senate, I have had the opportunity to be intimately involved in the remarkable expansion of Mississippi’s economy in the last four years, and I understand the important role the manufacturing industry plays in the growth of Mississippi.”

The MMA-PAC supports candidates who support the growth of manufacturing, which pays some of the highest wages and provides some of the best benefits in our state. Mississippi manufacturers pay $6 billion in wages and salaries, directly employ 180,000 Mississippians and contribute to the creation of another 600,000 jobs.

“Support from organizations like Mississippi Manufacturer’s Association is critical to my success as state auditor,” said Stacey Pickering. “MMA promotes Mississippi’s strong manufacturing environment and for more than 50 years has represented the interests of Mississippi’s manufacturers at a state and national level. I am proud to have their support.” In 2007, Pickering had a rating of 95 by the Business and Industry Political Education Committee (BIPEC), making him one of the five most pro-business Senators in Mississippi.

Pickering, his wife Whitney, and their four children reside in Laurel.