Former MS House Speaker Philip Gunn appointed to Hinds County economic development board

While Philip Gunn might not be representing Hinds County and Clinton as the Speaker of the Mississippi House anymore, he will continue to play a role in the region's economic development.

Monday during the Hinds County Board of Supervisors meeting in Downtown Jackson, supervisors voted unanimously to appoint Gunn to the Hinds County Economic Development Authority District 3 seat.

The board also voted to approve a renovation project and renaming of the old Military Building at 664 S. State St. The building will now be called Hinds County Administrative Offices.

Both Board President Robert Graham and District 3 Supervisor Deborah Butler-Dixon told the Clarion Ledger that Gunn seemed like the right person for the job.

"He brings value," Graham said. "He brings knowledge, experience, wisdom and his many years in the legislature. We're hoping that he can open doors that other people can't, and we need every bit of help from every direction in Hinds County."

Butler-Dixon, who chose Gunn to replace current board member Jared Turner, whose term was slated to expire in 2025, said she had already established a working relationship between herself and Gunn when they were previously serving in the Mississippi House.

She added that she believes he will work hard for the people of Hinds County.

"We have worked on some projects together before on economic development," she said. "I think it'd be a good appointment."

According to Hinds County Communications Director Othor Cain and Graham, HCEDA board members serve at the pleasure of the supervisors who oversee their districts, meaning they can be replaced before their term expires. Dixon decided to remove Turner because he has not once returned her requests to speak with him since taking office in January, she said.

Gunn, a Republican from Clinton, retired from the Legislature after choosing not to seek reelection in 2023. In February, it was announced that the former speaker had joined Balch Policy Advisors, LLC as part of the firm’s public policy and government relations team.

He was first elected to the legislature in 2003, representing portions of Hinds and Madison counties. In 2012, his fellow House members elected him as speaker, and he held that role until the 2024 legislative session began in January.

Gunn said he felt honored and hopes to work on more projects to the northwest region of Hinds County, as well as possibly even bring some projects to his former colleagues in the Capitol to consider supporting.

"I think we are always on the lookout for people who want to do business in Hinds County," Gunn said. "There are a number of things that are developing in the Clinton area that I have a lot of interest in…It's very humbling, and I'm very honored that they would deem me worthy to be involved with helping move the county forward. I am a resident of the county and have chosen to live here and be plugged into this community. I want to see it prosper."

Previously, Gunn worked in his capacity as a lawmaker to support a project for Continental Tire to locate a manufacturing plant in Clinton, as well as several other projects throughout the state.

Notably, it was under his speakership that the state passed an incentive package to bring Aluminum Dynamics, a flat roll aluminum mill and biocarbon plant project to Lowndes County, which in 2022, represented the largest private investment in state history of $2.5 billion.

In response to his ousting, Turner told the Clarion Leder that he was disappointed in the board's decision and not actually sure if he could be legally ousted before his term expires.

Turner added that to his knowledge, Dixon had never reached out to him.

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During the meeting, the board was also slated to vote on whether to move the Hinds County Election Commission building to the formerly dubbed Military Building down State Street.

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However, District 4 Election Commissioner Yvonne Horton asked the supervisors to delay that vote until after it is determined whether the commission can stay in its current building after its lease ends Oct. 31.

The board then voted to table that item while also voting to hire IMC Engineers to figure out the total cost and scope of the work required. Graham said during the meeting that he was not sure of any estimated cost for the project.

Cain told the Clarion Ledger the move to the new building will save the city between $6,000 and $7,000 per month on rent since the county owns the new building. Most of the work needed at the facility will be primarily cosmetic.

The board also voted to keep the space available as a voting precinct, which will be opened in a separate part of the building from the commission office.

District 2 Election Commissioner Bobbie Graves said the commission is looking forward to moving the new larger space.

"We definitely need to move from the location where we are now," she said. "The building where we are now is not the best condition."

Grant McLaughlin covers state government for the Clarion Ledger. He can be reached at gmclaughlin@gannett.com or 972-571-2335.