JACKSON, Miss. — Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves traveled to Alabama for a Republican fundraising occasion as folks in his state have been nonetheless reeling from back-to-back tornadoes that killed one particular person, injured dozens and destroyed houses and companies, and within the midst of lingering energy outages from extreme thunderstorms.
Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey and Reeves headlined a Republican Governors Association fundraiser on Monday on the Grand Bohemian Hotel in Birmingham, in keeping with an invite obtained Tuesday by The Associated Press. Ticket costs ranged from $5,000 for one particular person to $50,000 for 4 folks.
Reeves is coverage chairperson for the RGA and is looking for a second time period as governor this 12 months. His marketing campaign supervisor Elliott Husbands stated in response to questions Tuesday that the occasion was deliberate way back, and cash raised there was not earmarked for any particular marketing campaign. Kentucky, Louisiana and Mississippi have the one governor’s races this 12 months.
Reeves has stayed in touch with Mississippi Emergency Management Agency leaders since storms began pounding the state final week, together with throughout his Alabama journey that lasted about three hours, Husbands stated.
“The Governor also has personally communicated with local leaders in the affected areas,” Husbands stated. “In addition, he has already said publicly he is going to be on the ground in the impacted areas tomorrow.”
Brandon Presley, Mississippi’s northern district public service commissioner, is the Democratic nominee for governor. His marketing campaign communications director, Michael Beyer, on Tuesday criticized Reeves for attending the Republican Governors Association occasion.
“It is no surprise to see Tate Reeves leave the state for a fundraiser in the middle of storm recovery – when given a choice between rubbing elbows with the wealthy and well-connected or speaking face-to-face with Mississippians who have had their lives upended by this storm, he will always go after the money,” Beyer stated. “If it would mean furthering himself, Tate Reeves would go to Antarctica for a campaign check.”
Reeves didn’t fly on the state airplane to the fundraiser, Husbands stated.
Thousands of individuals have been sweating with out air-conditioning since extreme thunderstorms knocked out electrical service final week in central Mississippi.
A twister that struck Jasper County in japanese Mississippi in a single day Sunday to Monday killed one particular person, injured practically two dozen folks and broken greater than 70 houses. Later Monday, one other twister struck coastal Jackson County. It injured six folks and broken about 100 constructions. The metropolis of Moss Point was hardest hit.
Reeves stated Tuesday on social media: “We’ll be here for the long haul to support these communities and help them recover.”
Content Source: www.washingtontimes.com