2019 MS Governor's race: on Families & Children


Bill Waller: Follows "Billy Graham rule": never alone with a woman

Just days after state Rep. Robert Foster said he wouldn't be alone with a woman not his wife, even in a professional context, a second Republican candidate for governor has said he, too, follows what's known as the "the Billy Graham rule."

After the Republican Women's Candidate Forum in Jackson, former state Supreme Court Chief Justice Bill Waller Jr. told Mississippi Today that he would not be alone with a woman who isn't his wife, even in a personal or professional context.

"I just think it's common sense. I just think in this day and time, appearances are important and transparency's important, and people need to have the comfort of what's going on in government between employees and people. And there's a lot of social issues out there about that. My goal is to not make it an issue so that everyone's comfortable with the surroundings and we can go about our business," Waller said.

Source: MississippiToday.org on 2019 Mississippi Gubernatorial race Jul 15, 2019

Jim Hood: No "Billy Graham rule": Treat female journalists the same

After state Rep. Robert Foster said he wouldn't be alone with a woman not his wife, even in a professional context, a second Republican candidate for governor has said he, too, follows what's known as the "the Billy Graham rule." Former state Supreme Court Chief Justice Bill Waller Jr. told Mississippi Today that he would not be alone with a woman who isn't his wife, even in a personal or professional context.

Hood said he does not practice the Billy Graham rule. "If I couldn't meet with women alone to discuss issues important to them and to Mississippi, I wouldn't be able to do my job. As Governor, women will play an important role in my administration. I will move to pass an equal pay law for women; continue to fight domestic violence against women; and provide economic opportunities in business and industry for women. And I will do all these things while meeting with women--alone if necessary--to hear their voices and champion their causes," Hood said in an emailed statement.

Source: MississippiToday.org on 2019 Mississippi Gubernatorial race Jul 15, 2019

Tate Reeves: No "Billy Graham rule": Treat female journalists the same

Just days after state Rep. Robert Foster said he wouldn't be alone with a woman not his wife, even in a professional context, a second Republican candidate for governor has said he, too, follows what's known as the "the Billy Graham rule." Former state Supreme Court Chief Justice Bill Waller Jr. told Mississippi Today that he would not be alone with a woman who isn't his wife, even in a personal or professional context.

Mississippi Today asked the campaign of Republican Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves, who is also running for governor and considered the front-runner, whether he follows the Billy Graham rule. His campaign replied: "Provided they are fair to our campaign, we treat all journalists the same."

Democrat Jim Hood said he does not practice the Billy Graham rule.

Source: MississippiToday.org on 2019 Mississippi Gubernatorial race Jul 15, 2019

Robert Foster: I made a vow to my wife to not be alone with another woman

A Mississippi Republican gubernatorial candidate stood by his decision to deny a female reporter's request to accompany him on a campaign trip. "I didn't want to end up in a situation where me and Ms. Campbell were alone for an extended period of time throughout that 15- or 16-hour day, and so out of precaution, I wanted to have her bring someone with her--a male colleague. The other thing I think it's important to point out is that this is my truck, and in my truck, we go by my rules and that's my rule," state Rep. Robert Foster told CNN.

"I'm a married man and I made a vow to my wife, and part of the agreement that we've also made throughout our marriage is that we would not be alone with someone of the opposite sex throughout our marriage, and that is a vow that I have with my wife," he said, adding that he puts it above "anyone else's feelings, including yours."

Source: CNN.com on 2019 Mississippi Gubernatorial race Jul 11, 2019

Robert Foster: Refused ride-along with lone female reporter

A Republican state representative just told a female reporter he wouldn't let her do a ride-along with him. Why? Because she's a woman and it would look bad. Cue the anti-sexism fervor.

The issue in question began when Mississippi Today reporter Larrison Campbell, who had broken the story of state Rep. Robert Foster's entry into the gubernatorial race, requested to shadow Foster on a 15-hour campaign trip. Foster's campaign director, Colton Robison, declined the request because Campbell is a woman. "Perception is everything. We are so close to the primary. If (trackers) were to get a picture and they put a mailer out, we wouldn't have time to dispute it. And that's why we have to be careful," Robinson said.

Robinson suggested that Campbell bring a male colleague with her, an unreasonable request that would strain a local paper such as Mississippi Today. Needless to say, the ride-along didn't happen. After Campbell wrote a story about the incident, it blew up into a national affair

Source: Washington Examiner on 2019 Mississippi Gubernatorial race Jul 11, 2019

Tate Reeves: Creating family-friendly environment was a platform priority

Elected in 2011 as Mississippi's lieutenant governor, Tate Reeves stands ready to help guide the state toward a brighter future through a focus on improving educational achievement for students, supporting the creation of high-skilled jobs and responsibly managing the taxpayers' money. Reeves led the 52-member Senate in a successful 2012 legislative session with a focus on keeping government spending under control, reforming education and making Mississippi a better place to raise a family.
Source: Today In Mississippi on 2019 Mississippi Gubernatorial race Mar 11, 2018

  • The above quotations are from 2019 Mississippi Gubernatorial race: debates and news coverage.
  • Click here for definitions & background information on Families & Children.
  • Click here for other issues (main summary page).
Candidates and political leaders on Families & Children:

Retired Senate as of Jan. 2015:
GA:Chambliss(R)
IA:Harkin(D)
MI:Levin(D)
MT:Baucus(D)
NE:Johanns(R)
OK:Coburn(R)
SD:Johnson(D)
WV:Rockefeller(D)

Resigned from 113th House:
AL-1:Jo Bonner(R)
FL-19:Trey Radel(R)
LA-5:Rod Alexander(R)
MA-5:Ed Markey(D)
MO-9:Jo Ann Emerson(R)
NC-12:Melvin Watt(D)
SC-1:Tim Scott(R) 		Retired House to run for Senate or Governor:
AR-4:Tom Cotton(R)
GA-1:Jack Kingston(R)
GA-10:Paul Broun(R)
GA-11:Phil Gingrey(R)
HI-1:Colleen Hanabusa(D)
IA-1:Bruce Braley(D)
LA-6:Bill Cassidy(R)
ME-2:Mike Michaud(D)
MI-14:Gary Peters(D)
MT-0:Steve Daines(R)
OK-5:James Lankford(R)
PA-13:Allyson Schwartz(D)
TX-36:Steve Stockman(R)
WV-2:Shelley Capito(R) 		Retired House as of Jan. 2015:
AL-6:Spencer Bachus(R)
AR-2:Tim Griffin(R)
CA-11:George Miller(D)
CA-25:Howard McKeon(R)
CA-33:Henry Waxman(D)
CA-45:John Campbell(R)
IA-3:Tom Latham(R)
MN-6:Michele Bachmann(R)
NC-6:Howard Coble(R)
NC-7:Mike McIntyre(D)
NJ-3:Jon Runyan(R)
NY-4:Carolyn McCarthy(D)
NY-21:Bill Owens(D)
PA-6:Jim Gerlach(R)
UT-4:Jim Matheson(D)
VA-8:Jim Moran(D)
VA-10:Frank Wolf(R)
Please consider a donation to OnTheIssues.org!
Click for details -- or send donations to:
1770 Mass Ave. #630, Cambridge MA 02140
E-mail: submit@OnTheIssues.org
(We rely on your support!)

Page last updated: Nov 28, 2019