For someone who has been in the inner circle of Mississippi Republican Party leadership for going on 40 years, Andy Taggart’s candidacy for attorney general appears motivated far more by personal loss than political ideology.
During a 23-stop tour of north Mississippi this week, Taggart met with The Dispatch editorial board Thursday to explain his decision to run for AG and what he hopes to focus his efforts on, if elected.
Taggart has deep roots in the state’s Republican Party. He started as a campus director for Ronald Reagan’s presidential campaign in 1980 and has served as party leader and legal counsel for many of the state’s top Republican elected officially, including his role as chief of staff for Gov. Kirk Fordice, who in 1991 became the state’s first Republican Governor of the 20th Century.
Long mentioned in connection with almost every state-wide office, Taggart removed himself from the spotlight in 2012 when his 21-year-old son, Brad, died of suicide after years of addiction.
In the seven years since then, Taggart’s energy has been devoted first to healing, then the fight against addiction, especially opioid abuse.
Taggart said he agonized over the decision to run for AG, not filing to run until March 1, the last filing day.
In seeking to become the state’s attorney, Taggart isn’t so much turning the page as he is starting a new chapter in what has been a seven-year journey.
His top priority will be the fight against addiction. He said he believes devoting more of the office’s resources to that battle is essential to addressing the problem he believes is the state’s greatest challenge.
Supporting diversion programs by committing more the state’s drug courts, he said, will be a point of emphasis. In many cases, the person who turns up in court facing drug charges is often both offender and victim.
Apart from that non-partisan position, Taggart’s views on many topics do not always conform to conservative Republic orthodoxy.
He is a staunch supporter of changing Mississippi’s state flag and said Republicans have missed the opportunity to lead the charge for that change, which he said should have been down through the legislative process, something Mississippi’s Legislature has repeatedly failed to do.
He also said the prospects for the state becoming a one-party state — current AG Jim Hood is the only Democrat who holds a state-wide elected office — is bad for Mississippi.
On other issues, however, Taggart embraces traditional conservative Republican positions — he is opposed to the legalization of medical marijuana, for example.
Taggart will face state treasurer Lynn Fitch and state representative Mark Baker in the GOP primary. The winner will face Democrat Jennifer Collins, state director for the Mississippi ACLU in the November general election.
The Dispatch Editorial Board is made up of publisher Peter Imes, columnist Slim Smith, managing editor Zack Plair and senior newsroom staff.
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