MDOT presents The Extra Mile Podcast Legislative Session.

Paul - Welcome in to another episode of The Extra Mile Podcast: Legislative Session. I’m your host Paul Katool and I’m joined by my co-host Will Craft who handles constituent and government affairs here at the Mississippi Department of Transportation.

Will, I cannot believe it. It’s about a month through the legislative session. It will be a month when this episode airs. Seems like things have really kind of flown by.

Will - Time flies when you’re having fun. Isn’t that what they say?

Paul - That is indeed what they say. We’ve had a great run of guests and we’ve got another great one today. We have State Senator Angela Turner-Ford. I’ll give you a little information about Senator Turner-Ford. She assumed office in 2013 and represents District 16. That’s Clay, Lowndes, Noxubee and Oktibbeha counties. She is the Chair of the legislative Black Caucus. Senator Tuner-Ford, thank you so much for joining us today.

Senator Turner-Ford - Thank you, Paul. I appreciate the opportunity to be here.

Paul - Absolutely.

Will - Senator, it says here again we catch you in the office about 2013. What led you into politics? What drove you to get involved?

Senator Turner-Ford - My father was a member of the state senate prior to me being elected. Benny Turner. He passed away. I was serving as the County Prosecuting Attorney for Clay County at the time. I received a phone call shortly after his death suggesting that I consider running for the seat that he vacated. I did consider. I was successful and I’ve been here ever since.

Will - No looking back right?

Senator Turner-Ford - Absolutely no looking back.

Will - Enjoying every minute.

Will - Again you’re Chairwoman of The Public Property Committee. Would you like tell us a little bit about the measures that may come up in your committee and what that looks like?

Senator Turner-Ford - Well if there are issues with maybe changing laws pertaining to contractors that can make bids I would say to make renovations on properties. If there is I would say an opportunity to maybe sell public property that would come before the committee or if there’s a purchase. So there are different issues anything related to properties owned by the state can potentially come before The Public Property Committee.

Paul - This is a transportation podcast here at MDOT so we kind of ask everyone this question that comes in. So why in your opinion is it important for Mississippi to a have safe, efficient, robust strong transportation network?

Senator Turner-Ford - Transportation, highways, movements of goods. These are things that we rely on every day. And just as simple as going to and from the store you want to make sure that the roads are safe, they’re passible. All of that affects your underline budget so transportation is an issue that affects us all to a great magnitude.

Paul - And can you think of any kind of challenges that we have in the state of Mississippi or any hurdles that we have that we need to improve upon to kind of advance our transportation interests?

Senator Turner-Ford - Well I think there are certain segments of the community they’re not I would say is as comfortable with their roads as they would like. When those issues arise I think we need to make sure that as a state we’re in a position to address those. We want to make sure that all roadways are passible and safe. And if it happens in a small segment of the community we should all be concerned about it.

Will - Are you hearing much about electric vehicles? Autonomous vehicles from some of your constitutes?

Senator Turner-Ford - I have not. I think a few years ago there was an issue that came up I guess maybe regarding license tags. The impact on electronic vehicles I’ve heard of that but in terms of just independent contact I would say recently no I have not heard of those issues.

Will - Not seeing a lot of Tesla’s out there yet. Not quite.

Senator Turner-Ford - I have not. Not yet.

Will- Go ahead, Paul.

Paul - Oh yeah. Just back to the transportation thing a little bit. Can you talk maybe about how it impacts economic growth and development in your words?

Senator Turner-Ford - Well it’s really important and the reason I would say so you know people who live in other areas if they’re considering coming to Mississippi they want to know about the transportation network. I think that’s one critical issue. And then people deciding where they will live or move about within the state. That’s an issue that they could be concerned about as well. It affects everything that we do. It’s critical basically when you leave your home I think that you’re impacted by the transportation network for the state of Mississippi.

Will - I remember reading something about Mississippi being one of the most rural states in the nation. We have more commuters than any other state in the country. A lot of time spent by your constituents and MDOT employees other states. A lot of time spent by Mississippians on the road driving to and from. A 20-minute drive here and there is one thing but a 20-minute drive that beats your car to death is another you know.

Senator Turner-Ford - It is. That may not be necessarily work related I mean just social issues purchasing groceries, getting to and from school. We want to make sure our buses have safe roads to transport our children. So these are just issues that affect everyone’s daily life. We want all Mississippians to have a good quality of life and transportation is definitely a part of that.

Paul - No doubt. No doubt. And we want to give you an opportunity to take things back home to District 16. Are there any kind of projects transportation infrastructure projects that you’re keeping an eye on right now?

Senator Turner-Ford - Certainly there’s one that I keep an eye on every time I my home. There’s a mill overlay on Highway 50 in Clay County going into Lowndes County. I think that’s ultimately important. There was actually a sign I think on the side of the road that says, “Thank your legislature for the lottery.” And those funds that were appropriated to make those projects possible. So we’re definitely appreciative I would say as an everyday citizen. I appreciate that the highway is smooth, it’s widened and those are things that I definitely think that most Mississippians especially those in Clay and Lowndes counties that they are satisfied with.

Also Highway 45 there’s overlay going on there as well. So that affects Lowndes County, Clay County, Oktibbeha County the Golden Triangle area. We’re happy that those improvements are being made.

Will - Lots of traffic on both of those routes. The lottery thank you and your colleagues. It’s been infinitely helpful in trying to address a lot of our two-digit, three-digit highways out there. So we certainly appreciate ya getting that money over here.

Senator Turner-Ford - Well I appreciate the agency for lifting up those roads for those improvements. I’m grateful for the department doing so.

Will - Alright. Again trying to keep it local and take it back home here. We talk a lot about transportation. I know you spend a lot of time on the road driving to and from the capitol. Are there any local hot spots, food spots that anytime you’re in, anytime you’re in the neighborhood, you gotta stop in and get a bite to eat or something back home?

Senator Turner-Ford - The one I would recommend the most would be Anthony’s. It’s right off of Highway 45 in downtown West Point. It’s a hot spot. Live entertainment. Great food if you’re in the area I would encourage you to stop by.

Will - What’s your go to meal at that place?

Senator Turner-Ford - I like the steaks. I prefer their medium but they have varying degrees of entrees and I think that you’ll be pleased.

Paul - Will and I are taking notes throughout this. We’ve had some great answers from the guests before and you gave us a great answer. We are taking notes and we’ll get out there and hit everything up.

Will - Maybe the 2023 podcast legislative edition we can host at these different locations. We can get a bite at all these things you know.

Paul - I’m for it.

Will - That would be very good.

Senator Turner-Ford - Great idea.

Will - Well, Senator. Thank you again for being with us today. Those who are listening out there how can they get in touch with you if they want to kind of learn more about your office, your district or what your passions are?

Senator Turner-Ford - Of course Internet email is great. My email address is aford@senate.ms.gov and then there’s my local telephone number here at the Capitol. 601-359-3237. If I’m not there my committee assistant will answer and get the message to me.

Paul - Excellent. Excellent. Thank you so much again, Senator Turner-Ford for coming to join us today. And to our listeners out there thank you for listening. If you want to hear more episodes of The Extra Mile Podcast Legislative Session be sure to subscribe or download wherever podcasts can be found. You can also watch each episode of The Extra Mile. Just search The Department of Transportation on YouTube. Remember to follow us on Facebook and Twitter. The handle is @MississppiDOT. And as always remember to drive smart out there on Mississippi highways.