10/2/2002 5:01:00 PM PERRY / Griffis campaign marshals conservative vote
By Brian Perry
Reasonably Right
Mississippi judicial races are nonpartisan, but far from nonpolitical. While candidates do not run on a party ticket, the differences quickly become defined.
The conservative in the race for the Third District Mississippi Court of Appeals is Ridgeland attorney Kenny Griffis. He will be challenging incumbent Jim Brantley of Madison, appointed to the bench last year by Governor Ronnie Musgrove following the resignation of Judge Mary Libby Payne. Brantley is a former president of the Mississippi Trial Lawyers Association.
Griffis says he is running as “a common sense conservative accountable to the voters” who will be “a judge for all the people.” Speaking with him earlier this week, and watching his campaign over the past few months, it appears he will have that chance come November, if his supporters turn out at the ballot box. A good candidate with a great campaign message and strong voter appeal, Griffis could be the first candidate to unseat a major Musgrove appointee.
This political position is in part due to Griffis’ strong geographic base. While never running for office before, his district, which is the old Third Congressional District, will be favorable to his campaign. There are three key areas: South Madison County, Rankin County and Lauderdale County.
Griffis lives in Ridgeland, was born in Meridian and has family still in Lauderdale County, and has support of political leaders in Rankin County.
These are also the key Republican areas of the district, and while Mississippi law prohibits the Griffis Campaign or the Republican Party from endorsing each other, most Republicans are getting the word that Griffis is the conservative they want.
This is illustrated in part by caliber of political figures coming to the aid of Griffis. Some of his top supporters include former Supreme Court Chief Justice Lenore Prather, former Third District Congressman Sonny Montgomery and College Board President Bryce Griffis (who happens to also be his cousin). Haley Barbour will be hosting a campaign event for Griffis.
And several conservative lawmakers from the district (including Greg Snowden, Gary Chism, Eric Robinson, John Moore, Bill Denny and Billy Nicholson) have signed a letter of support for Griffis.
Business and industry groups are also lending their support to the Griffis campaign through endorsements and campaign contributions. The associations representing hospitals, the medical community, bankers, realtors and restaurateurs have all chosen Griffis as their candidate.
Meanwhile, Brantley has the support of the trial lawyer community, though this one group can usually muster greater the amount of campaign contributions that the business community can raise.
According to Griffis, there are two major differences between him and Brantley: accountability and perspective. “My opponent has said he just wants to serve out the term. I believe a judge needs to stand before the voters. Judges need accountability.” He noted that Brantley is a lifetime member of the Mississippi Trial Lawyers Association and has made his career in the plaintiff arena. Griffis says he on the other hand, has practiced both defense and plaintiff law; working on both sides. “My interest is serving and serving in a way that views the law in a way that was intended for it to be applied. Both sides are entitled to a fair judge that will rule on the law and the facts of the case.”
“We have a problem with our judiciary and we need the right people on the court,” Griffis said in explaining why he is running for the Court of Appeals. “My parents taught me the value of service and I believe this is an opportunity where I can step forward to make sure that truth and justice do prevail.”
According to Griffis, the most important issue facing our judiciary today is “restoring trust and confidence in the appellate courts. The US Chamber of Commerce rated Mississippi last in judicial competence and fairness. I am going to do my part to change that.”
Griffis and his wife, the former Mary Helen McCarty of Magee, have four boys, Sean Michael (9), T. K. (4), and twins — Edwin and Robert (2), and are expecting their fifth child in January. He said Chip Pickering (who has five children himself) needs to watch out, because he is gaining on him.
Griffis and Pickering also have another thing in common, they are both conservatives in a conservative region of the state. It is Pickering’s old district lines that Griffis is now running in, and with support from former Congressman Montgomery and a strong campaign, it looks that Griffis will be elected in this district as well.
Brian Perry is a columnist for the Madison County Journal and Editor of MagnoliaReport.com.
