Biloxi Bay Bridge Opening Ceremonies

[Kitty]

A symbol of the continuing recovery on our Gulf Coast (http://www.sunherald.com/414/gallery/177968-a178186-t3.html)

[TDaleBeavers]

And an event to promote and commemorate the campaign to re-elect Wayne Brown Southern District Highway Commissioner and the continuation of Butch Brown at Dictat...err Executive Director over MDOT.

[Kitty]

And an event to promote and commemorate the campaign to re-elect Wayne Brown Southern District Highway Commissioner and the continuation of Butch Brown at Dictat...err Executive Director over MDOT.

I'm sure many people realize the timing of the opening was a political ploy by Wayne Brown, including the printing of the booklet (at taxpayers expense) distributed at the ceremony that basically was a rah-rah piece for Wayne Brown.

I understand Harrison County Supervisor Connie Rockco was at the ceremony holding a Larry Benefield sign. :-D

Nevertheless, the opening of this bridge is bigger than any politician. It is a symbol of the continuing recovery on our Gulf Coast.

[Guru]

It's about time! How many trips did I make over that old bridge?

[TDaleBeavers]

No doubt it is..and I am certainly not trying to minimize the importance the reopening of the Biloxi Bay Bridge is to the Coast's rebirth. In a much lesser vein, I greatly enjoyed watching the Seawolves return to the Gulf Coast last weekend (even though they lost badly). A crowd of almost 7,000 was there, and the lead singer of Three Doors Down sang the "The Star Spangled Banner."

Nonetheless, the timing and the books at taxpayer expense were blatantly poitical.

[talkizcheap]

Don't be so quick to believe everything you hear. I thought many of the forum posts on sun herald's website clarified the situation and wanted to share one:

---------------------------------------------
I have never seen so much negative response to such a positive accomplishment. Wayne Brown was the man who came up with the idea to design build the bridge, which resulted in a great asset built in less than half the anticipated time. 99% of the people on the coast know what Wayne Brown has accomplished, but for personal and selfish political reasone, you continue to try to malign Mr. Brown's character. It is not working. Connie Rocco, a local elected official showed what a sleeze she is by bringing a Larry Benefield political sign. If Larry Benefield is such a great man, then why doens't the Governor, a member of Mr, . Benefield's own politiacal party, endorse him? Haley has endorsed numerous candidates for much lower profile offices. The reason. The Governor knows how popular Wayne Brown is with the electorate of South Mississippi and doesn't want to lose votes by endorsing a man known by the governor to be far less qualified for the job. Haley also knows what an outstanding job Wayne has done and will not endorse his opponent out of respect for Wayne Brown. As for the man, (I am sure he is Stan Tiner himself or Larry Benefield) who made the crude statements about the Wayne Brown Memorial Bridge and Wayne Brown being a legend in his own mind, You Sir, are a first class dud. I have known Wayne for over 40 years. He starts work before daylight and gets home at all hours working for his beloved South Mississippi. When he is not performing his duties with MDOT he is either studying his Sunday School lesson, Speaking at some church on behalf of the Gideons, playing with his grandchildren, and spending time with his family. He is certainly not a vain, self centered individual like Benefield. From what I hear about Benefield, You can count on 3 things being co-located a large part of the time. The $40,000.00 pickup he drives paid for by the tax payers, whisky, and a poker table. As for the book, everyone I have talked to loves it and it will be a great keepsake and memorial to commemorate the greatest event this far in the coasts recovery from Katrine. Your unfounded insinuations about hidden costs are only very, very cheap last minute desperation political ploys for the BIG LOSER, Larry Benefield. If it were your man Larry who was responsible for this bridge, you would have the Pope here trying to bestow Sainthood on the guy. Wayne is a man of vision, integrity, honesty, high moral character, wisdom and humility. For you low breed sleezy character assasins to try to crucify such an accomplished public servant to get your candidate elected is a disgrace, and the people will prove it come election day. As for the Sun Herold, you guys are not close to being journalists. you did not mention nor did you include photos of the public servants who worked so hard to bring this great asset to us in such a miraculous time. You omitted that part because you were afraid someone might see Wayne Browns photo and associate him with the bridge. It was his idea, his doing and he should get credit for it. No, he is not the only politician who worked on it, but he led the rest.

*
Posted by: Rakestraw Jake

[Scipio]

When you start defending politicians by talking about how much they love Jesus, Mohammed, YHWH, Buddha, Vishnu, or Joseph Smith, I reflexively vote for the other guy.

[TDaleBeavers]

http://www.clarionledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071103/OPINION01/711030319

Here's today's Clarion Ledger endorsement of Central District Highway Commissioner Dick Hall and Southern District challenger Larry Benefield:

Excerpts:

"The commissioners from the northern and southern districts also seem to agree with Brown that none of them particularly likes dealing with Central District Commissioner Dick Hall. They voted to move Hall's staff out of the building.
Hall is now headquartered in a trailer in Rankin County.


The two-on-one political standoff between the state's transportation commissioners is childish and counterproductive to good government. This is one more solid example of why those commissioners should be appointed, not elected.
With a $1 billion budget, MDOT is one of the largest state agencies and yet, at the same time, one of the state's least accountable agencies. Because of federal funding and antiquated state laws, the Legislature and the governor have scant influence over state transportation policy implementation.


The Legislature should reform MDOT with appointive leadership answerable to the governor. It needs accountability. It needs to be a part of state government, not a kingdom into itself.


In the Central District, incumbent Republican Hall is the best choice. His superior experience and longstanding record of integrity and independence will help to bring meaningful change to MDOT policies. But Hall will need help to get the district in a position to get a fairer shake in MDOT affairs.


In the Southern District, incumbent Wayne Brown is facing the strong challenge of Republican Larry Benefield. Benefield has made clear that he believes a change of direction at MDOT is necessary and that the present two-against-one mode of operation is a waste of the taxpayer's time and money.


Benefield is the best choice for Southern District transportation commissioner.
In the Northern District, incumbent Commissioner Bill Minor faces no opposition in the general election.


It's past time that decorum and common sense return to the operation of MDOT. Hall and Benefield represent the state's best chance to achieve that goal."

[chaz]

It's about time! How many trips did I make over that old bridge?

The rodeo bridge? My truck use'ta bounce like a bronco on that thing.