Legislative Session 2022: State Representative Richard Bennett
State Representative Richard Bennett, Chair of the Education Committee in the House, joined the show to talk teacher pay raise legislation, MDOT’s upkeep of Hwy 90, the revitalization of the Coast post-Katrina and more.
State Representative Richard Bennett, Chair of the Education Committee in the House, joined the show to talk teacher pay raise legislation, MDOT’s upkeep of Hwy 90, the revitalization of the Coast post-Katrina and more.
- Show intro, introducing State Representative Richard Bennett - 00:16
- How State Representative Richard Bennett got into politics -00:55
- Representative Bennett on the teacher pay raise legislation - 02:48
- Information on conference weekend, last two weeks of the 2022 Mississippi legislative session - 04:30
- More on conference reports - 05:25
- Legislation helping to provide higher education to foster care kids - 06:10
- Importance of transportation, any projects going on in District 120, MDOT's upkeep of Highway 90 - 08:41
- Revitalization of the Mississippi Gulf Coast following Hurricane Katrina - 10:18
- Favorite place to grab a bite to eat while traveling Mississippi - 11:49
- Ways for people and constituents to contact State Representative Richard Bennett - 13:05
- Show outro - 13:43
Creators and Guests
Host
Paul Katool
Paul Katool joined the Mississippi Department of Transportation Public Affairs Division in 2016 as the agency’s first Social Media Strategist. In 2019, he was promoted to Digital Media Manager, where he led the creation of MDOT’s nationally award-winning Extra Mile Podcast. In 2022, Paul assumed the role of Deputy Director of Public Affairs, which includes helping to run the day-to-day operations of the division.
Host
Will Craft
Will Craft joined MDOT in 2018 after serving on Senator Thad Cochran’s and Senator Hyde Smith’s staffs. Beginning in the Government Affairs role at MDOT, Will assisted executive leadership in matters of policy, stakeholder engagement, legislative affairs, and external communications. Since joining the Public Affairs team in 2023, Will is most often recognized as one of the “podcast guys”. The Award Winning Extra Mile Podcast is hosted by Will and Paul Katool, and produced by Drew Hall.
Producer
Drew Hall
Drew Hall is a media producer with experience in video production and journalism. He currently works in the Public Affairs Division of the Mississippi Department of Transportation, where he shoots and edits a range of content, including producing the award-winning podcast The Extra Mile. Drew holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communication from Mississippi State University and has received industry recognition, including an AASHTO Best Audio Production Award. Previously, Drew worked as a photojournalist for News Channel 12 and Fox 40 News, developing his skills in visual storytelling and news production. Drew is married to Courtney Ann Hall, of Corinth, MS, and has one son, Jackson.