NESHOBA COUNTY— The political speeches at the Neshoba County Fair are just as much a part of the tradition as the old cabins or reflecting back on the time Ronald Reagan took to the podium.
John Mosley and Mike Chaney continued that tradition Wednesday when they both stepped up to the microphone to say why they should serve the state of Mississippi from the office of State Insurance Commissioner.
Mosley hails from the camp of Clinton Body Shop, with a motto saying, “we take pride in perfection.” Mosley has fought before against insurance companies mandating the use of after-market parts for repairs on your car, which could also be seen as cheaper quality parts. Mosley keeps the theme of fighting for the consumer in his speech, saying that he’ll continue to push for fairness when it comes to insurance rates.
“Insurance rates are up 400-600% since Katrina,” says Mosley about homeowners insurance on the coast.
Chaney comes from a different camp, citing his political experience in the office as his platform. Chaney says he’s responsible for training the hundreds of volunteer firefighters a year, and that if those volunteers were paid, it would cost the state $500 million a year. Chaney also spoke of insurance rates and the unfair hikes, saying that Attorney General Jim Hood had refused to sue FEMA over an issue that led to extreme insurance rates after natural disasters, and then made the link to insurance rates bringing in business in Mississippi.
“When it comes to bringing in business in Mississippi, don’t you want experience?” asks Chaney. But moments later, he questioned whether or not his opponent Mosley was truly a Republican, saying that Mosley voted Democratic in the primaries for the 2008 presidential election.
