Contact: Leah Barbour
Photo by: Beth Wynn
By detailing the responsibilities of his position, Mississippi Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann explained to Boys State delegates what a life in public service is really like.
He visited Mississippi State University's campus on Friday [May 31] and told the young men about his role and how his office serves citizens throughout the Magnolia State.
Not only does Hosemann serve as Mississippi's chief elections official, the Warren County native also heads the policy and research division, which administers and supervises all state lands, including 16th Section School Trust Lands. He said he was especially proud of his office's policy and research division, which works to streamline secretary of state services and develop potential legislation.
"Public policy is important to me, so I opened a public policy division," Hosemann explained. "Public policy is critical to me. We ended up hiring three different lawyers to do nothing but research all the state's laws and the adjoining states and how we can correct (laws) to make them better."
Hosemann also emphasized the importance of his office's public lands division.
"Almost every day somebody comes up with a way to take your public lands away from you, and every day we have to fight that," he said.
Finally, Hosemann told the more than 380 Boys State delegates that they must get involved in the political process and vote every single time they have the opportunity. Because about one-third of eligible voters in Mississippi cast ballots, he said the Boys State delegates will impact politics and legislation simply by going to the polls.
"It's such a good thing to see the bright young faces that are going to be the leaders," Hosemann said.
Before he became secretary of state, Hosemann served as chairman of the board of directors for Mississippi Blood Services, treasurer of the Jackson Medical Mall Association and board member for the Jackson State University Development Foundation. He received the J. Tate Thigpen Award for exemplary leadership, support and commitment to the American Red Cross.
Hosemann has a background in business and taxation law. His undergraduate degree in business came from Notre Dame, and he completed his law degree at University of Mississippi. Hosemann finished his Master of Laws in Taxation at New York University.
MSU is serving through 2015 as host campus for the Mississippi American Legion Boys State, considered to be the nation's premier program for teaching how government works while developing young men's leadership skills and honing their appreciation for the rights and responsibilities of citizenship.
For more information about Boys State, visit www.msboysstate.com. For more information about Mississippi State University, see www.msstate.edu.