Abe Hudson (Incumbent)

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1. What is your experience with K-12 public schools, personally and/or with your children or family? I am a product of Mississippi Delta public schools. Through the public school system of Greenville and Coahoma County I attained priceless academic and social skills. I believe that public schools are an essential component of our society.

2. Do you agree that the Mississippi Adequate Education Program (MAEP) should be fully funded every year? If yes, what actions will you take to ensure full funding? If no, explain why. Yes, in order to ensure full funding, I will question education appropriation and all policy recommendations that increase/decrease funding.

3. What will you do to ensure state revenue that is sufficient to provide all of the services Mississippi’s citizens need to lead productive lives? First, I will continue to dialogue with my colleagues about the issues that plague my part of the state-the Mississippi Delta. Second, I’ll continue to support legislation that progresses education, improves housing, changes criminal justice, creates jobs, and provides innovative healthcare.

4. Will you oppose vouchers that send taxpayer dollars to private schools, religious schools, home schools, or virtual schools? Why or why not? Yes, I will oppose vouchers because they divert much needed funding from public schools.

5. Do you agree that all K-12 schools that receive taxpayer dollars, including private voucher schools, should be accountable to taxpayers for the quality of education they provide, using the same accountability measures as public schools? Yes, accountability is an integral part of a flourishing educational system and assists us in ensuring equity within our schools.

6. Public schools serve the vast majority of Mississippi students with disabilities. Do you agree that special education services in public schools should be fully funded every year? (Special education has been underfunded by the state every year since 2008.) If yes, how will you accomplish full funding? If no, explain why. Yes. I will advocate for full funding amongst my legislative colleagues by sharing information with stakeholders to gain their support for increasing such funding.

7. Do you agree that Mississippi should provide high quality early childhood education statewide? Yes, high quality early childhood education will ensure students are prepared with foundational skills that will counter negative environmental factors.

8. The nation’s top teachers say that the greatest barriers to school success for K-12 students are family stress, poverty, and learning and psychological problems. What steps do you believe legislators should take to alleviate these obstacles for Mississippi children? Although this is a great feat that may take years to accomplish, I believe it begins with high-quality education in ALL of our schools. Fully funding MAEP and increasing teacher salaries are the initial steps that should be taken.

9. Do you support raising teacher salaries at least to the level of our neighboring states and raising pay for teacher assistants? Yes

10. Do you agree that retired educators (and other retired state employees) should be able to draw their retirement while serving in the Legislature? Yes

11. Legislators have little or no staff to help them understand the many bills they must consider. Before introducing or supporting a bill that could affect public education, will you commit to seeking input from teachers, principals, superintendents, and parents of public school students in your district? Who will be advising you on education policies? Yes, in addition to being married to a public school educator/advocate, I solicit feedback from my constituency constantly. We have a newsletter, open phone line, and social media live broadcasts to receive additional feedback.

12. Legislators receive tremendous pressure from the leaders of their chamber (House or Senate), state and party leaders, and corporate lobbyists, to vote in ways that may contradict the will of their constituents and harm their communities. How will you respond to this pressure? I will continue to stand my ground and do what is best for those I represent.

 Anthony Jackson (defeated in primary)

1. What is your experience with K-12 public schools, personally and/or with your children or family? Went to public school my whole life. Mother has put 15+ years in the school system working as well.

2. Do you agree that the Mississippi Adequate Education Program (MAEP) should be fully funded every year? If yes, what actions will you take to ensure full funding? If no, explain why. Yes I believe that this program should be funded fully every year. In current times we see a rise in more of our students battling mental health issues that are often times neglected or not treated properly due to a lack of resources within the school system. On top of fighting for an increase in teacher pay raises, I would also be a strong advocate for the installment of a more efficient and effective special education as well as vocational educational programming.

3. What will you do to ensure state revenue that is sufficient to provide all of the services Mississippi’s citizens need to lead productive lives? I will pay very close attention to see where tax payer dollars are being sent to. I believe these funds should be used to help make things such as healthcare more available and affordable as well as funding our education system.

4. Will you oppose vouchers that send taxpayer dollars to private schools, religious schools, home schools, or virtual schools? Why or why not? Due to the condition of the public school system in which I am running to represent, I will oppose those vouchers. The community has seen 4 of our public schools close under consolidation and we need every dollar to flow into these schools so that the staff and administration may be able to give these kids the educational experience they deserve.

5. Do you agree that all K-12 schools that receive taxpayer dollars, including private voucher schools, should be accountable to taxpayers for the quality of education they provide, using the same accountability measures as public schools? I do not know about this to properly and honestly answer this question at this time. This is something I will conduct my own research on to become more knowledgeable .

6. Public schools serve the vast majority of Mississippi students with disabilities. Do you agree that special education services in public schools should be fully funded every year? (Special education has been underfunded by the state every year since 2008.) If yes, how will you accomplish full funding? If no, explain why. Yes special education should be fully funded. As mentioned earlier we are seeing a dramatic increase of children who battle with mental health issues and other disabilities that take a toll on the students ability to perform in the classroom.

7. Do you agree that Mississippi should provide high quality early childhood education statewide? Yes. Having a strong foundation will give our children the opportunity to continue to surpass the expectation set for them and enable them perform at a more efficient rate in grade school.

8. The nation’s top teachers say that the greatest barriers to school success for K-12 students are family stress, poverty, and learning and psychological problems. What steps do you believe legislators should take to alleviate these obstacles for Mississippi children? I think that parents and students alike should be involved more in the political process and that we should use the resources at hand to help. For instance one simple thing that could be established in a school could be some sort of closet filled with school supplies, household clean up items, laundry detergent, etc… that families could have access to. Maybe through partnering with stores, churches in the communities, local PTA groups and different organizations we could bring certain resources to these families and students to reassure that we are not giving up on them, so they shouldn’t give up on themselves.

9. Do you support raising teacher salaries at least to the level of our neighboring states and raising pay for teacher assistants? Yes.

10. Do you agree that retired educators (and other retired state employees) should be able to draw their retirement while serving in the Legislature? I do not know about this to properly and honestly answer this question at this time. This is something I will conduct my own research on to become more knowledgeable.

11. Legislators have little or no staff to help them understand the many bills they must consider. Before introducing or supporting a bill that could affect public education, will you commit to seeking input from teachers, principals, superintendents, and parents of public school students in your district? Who will be advising you on education policies? Yes. I will for sure look to the administration leaders in my area, current and retired educators in the district, and also the parents and the students themselves so we can all have an understanding of how a bill could either be beneficial or detrimental to our surrounding schools in the community and across the state.

12. Legislators receive tremendous pressure from the leaders of their chamber (House or Senate), state and party leaders, and corporate lobbyists, to vote in ways that may contradict the will of their constituents and harm their communities. How will you respond to this pressure? My constituents will always come first. By staying true to my core values and the foundation that I was raised upon here in my district, it won’t be a problem when it’s time for me to vote the way my constituents would want me to. I’m not running to make deals with people and be the most liked person. I’m running to ensure that District 29, the Mississippi Delta, and the State of Mississippi are moving in a positive direction and serving the people to the fullest.