Jay Mathis
James W. "Jay" Mathis is a former Republican member of the Mississippi House of Representatives, representing District 45 in 2015. He was elected to the chamber in a special election that was to be held on May 5, 2015. Since he was the only candidate, the state Board of Election Commissioner canceled the May 5 special election and declared Mathis the winner.[1][2]
Mathis was a 2011 Republican candidate for District 45 of the Mississippi House of Representatives. He was defeated in the general election on November 8.
Biography
Mathis earned a B.A. from the University of Mississippi. His professional experience includes working as a special agent with Prudential Preferred Financial Services and a reserve sheriff's deputy in Leake County. He is also a member of the Cameron Park Zoological Society, the Waco Boys & Girls Club, and the National Association of Life Underwriters.[3]
Sponsored legislation
Elections
2015
Jay Mathis was the only candidate who signed up to run in the May 5 special election. Since he was the only candidate, the state Board of Election Commissioner cancelled the May 5 special election and declared Mathis the winner. This election was nonpartisan, but Mathis is a Republican.[1][4]
The seat was vacant following Bennett Malone's (D) retirement on February 12, 2015.[5]
A special election for the position of Mississippi House of Representatives District 45 was scheduled for May 5. The filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was April 6.[6]
2011
Mathis ran in the 2011 election for Mississippi House of Representatives District 45. He defeated Wayne Vaughn and Charles Webber in the primary on August 2, 2011.[7] Democratic incumbent Bennett Malone ran unopposed in the August 2 Democratic primary. The general election took place on November 8, 2011.[8]
District 45 was targeted by the GOP as a possible pickup in its attempt to flip the state House to Republican control for the first time since Reconstruction. The Mississippi GOP's push hoped to mirror successful efforts in other southern states, including North Carolina and Louisiana, to break the last vestiges of the old Democratic "solid south."[9]
| Mississippi House of Representatives, District 45 General Election, 2011 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Democrat |  Bennett Malone Incumbent |
50.6% | 3,157 | |
| Republican | Jay Mathis | 49.4% | 3,078 | |
| Total Votes | 6,235 | |||
| Mississippi House of Representatives District 45 Republican Primary, 2011 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
| Jay Mathis |
59.9% | 787 |
| Wayne Vaugh | 36.5% | 479 |
| Charles Webber (withdrew) | 3.7% | 48 |
| Total Votes | 1,314 | |
Scorecards
A scorecard evaluates a legislator’s voting record. Its purpose is to inform voters about the legislator’s political positions. Because scorecards have varying purposes and methodologies, each report should be considered on its own merits. For example, an advocacy group’s scorecard may assess a legislator’s voting record on one issue while a state newspaper’s scorecard may evaluate the voting record in its entirety.
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2015
In 2015, the Mississippi State Legislature was in session from January 6 through April 2.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to business and economic issues.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.
Endorsements
2011
Mathis was endorsed by the Mississippi Tea Party. District 45 was one of 10 districts the Tea Party’s Move the House Committee specifically targeted as necessary to win in order to gain conservative control of the House.[10]
Personal
Note: Please contact us if the personal information below requires an update.
Mathis resides in Carthage with his wife, Andrea, and their two children.
Recent news
This section links to a Google news search for the term "Jay + Mathis + Mississippi + House"
See also
- Mississippi State Legislature
- Mississippi House of Representatives
- House Committees
- Joint Committees
- Mississippi House of Representatives District 45
- State legislative special elections, 2015
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Mississippi Secretary of State, "2015 Candidate Qualifying List," accessed April 7, 2015
- ↑ washingtontimes.com, "New lawmaker Mathis sworn in at Mississippi Capitol," accessed April 30, 2015
- ↑ Project Vote Smart, "Jay W. Mathis's Biography," accessed August 25, 2011
- ↑ washingtontimes.com, "Lone candidate wins Mississippi House seat without election," accessed April 22, 2015
- ↑ WAPT, "Longtime Rep. Malone, of Carthage, retiring from Miss. House," February 12, 2015
- ↑ WTOK, "Special Election Set for District 45," March 13, 2015
- ↑ Associated Press, "Mississippi Primary Election Results," accessed August 3, 2011
- ↑ Mississippi Secretary of State, 2011 Official Primary Candidate List
- ↑ RealClearPolitics, "Tea party targets some Dem seats in Miss. House," August 10, 2011
- ↑ Y'all Politics, "Mississippi Tea Party To Target 10 Seats," September 6, 2011
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Bennett Malone (D) |
Mississippi House of Representatives District 45 2015-2016 |
Succeeded by Michael Evans (D) |
