Until this fall, Mike Tagert never ran for public office.
These days, however, the 40-year-old father of two is traveling from town to town in north Mississippi, learning about local issues and talking to voters before Tuesday”s special election to determine the next Mississippi Department of Transportation Northern District Transportation Commissioner. The race pits Tagert, a Starkville resident for the last 13 years, against six others who are vying to fill the seat of former Northern District Transportation Commissioner Bill Minor, who died of a heart attack Nov. 1.
If elected, Tagert would be one of three commissioners responsible for the governance, policies and budget of the Mississippi Department of Transportation. The position pays $77,000 annually.
The Northern District encompasses 33 counties, including Oktibbeha, Clay, Lowndes, Monroe, Choctaw, Winston and Webster. Noxubee County is in the Central Mississippi District and is served by Commissioner Dick Hall. The Southern District is served by Commissioner Wayne Brown.
For Tagert, serving as transportation commissioner would be a natural progression in a career already full of experience in transportation and economic development, he said Wednesday. Tagert has spent the last three years with the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway Development Council and as administrator of the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway Development Authority.
“This (position) would be a great fit for me,” he said. “I would be doing what I”ve already been doing, just at a much higher and much more comprehensive level.”
Tagert said he wants to help facilitate several transportation projects in the region, and has his eye on at least two in the Golden Triangle — a runway extension project at Golden Triangle Regional Airport and the extension of Artesia Road in Lowndes County. Tagert also hopes to improve infrastructure as a whole, from roads to rails to airports to waterways.
“A mission of the agency should always be road and bridge safety, so that”s obviously a top priority,” Tagert said. “We want to improve roads for commuter traffic, as well as help improve rails and waterways for the transportation of raw materials. All of that is important to attract businesses and create jobs. A lot of work needs to be done in north Mississippi and throughout the region.”
Tagert, who is originally from Rankin County, received his Bachelor of Science degree from Millsaps College and his Master of Science and Master of Public Policy and Administration from Mississippi State University. He attended Millsaps after six years in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve.
Tagert is married to the former Mary Love Mortimer, of Kilmichael. The couple and their two children, Frances, 4, and Harlan, 3, attend First United Methodist Church.
In the community, Tagert has served as a volunteer with the American Red Cross and is treasurer of the Starkville Area Arts Council.
“I”m not a traditional politician,” Tagert said. “My political interest is specific to this job. I”m not looking for a stepping stone.”
Tagert will face John M. Caldwell Sr., of Desoto County, Dennis C. Grisham of Tippah County, Joey P. Hood of Itawamba County, Larry Lee of Grenada County, Warner F. McBride of Panola County, and Ray Minor, brother of Bill Minor. The winner Tuesday must receive at least 50 percent of the vote. If no candidate gets 50 percent, a runoff will take place Feb. 1 between the two candidates who receive the most votes Tuesday.
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