Mississippi’s Chaney Facing 2 Opponents

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Louis Fondren, a Democrat from Gautier, and Barbara Dale Washer, the Reform Party candidate from Hattiesburg, are seeking to dislodge incumbent Mike Chaney as Mississippi insurance commissioner.

Chaney, a Republican from Vicksburg, served in the state Legislature before being elected commissioner in 2007.

He says his accomplishments on the job are good reasons to keep him for another four years. His opponents say more can be done to keep insurance rates low enough.

Chaney counts among his achievements digitizing the department’s records, updating its Web site, recruiting 140 new insurers, completing a $1 million hurricane wind mitigation study, and helping create a $20 million grant mitigation program for coastal homeowners.

He also said under his leadership, the insurance department has recovered nearly $154 million related to jailed financial swindler Martin Frankel.

Chaney said his focus remains on keeping insurance rates affordable, as well as preparing for health reform.

Fondren, an attorney, is a former mayor of Moss Point. He also was a judge and state representative. He said the key to low insurance rates is making the decision-making process open to the public. He wants to use public actuaries at insurance premium meetings.

Washer, a retiree, said she’ll push for lower rates across the board. She said it was also important to attract more insurance providers.

Chaney has spent $106,302 and has $402,824 cash on hand, according to the most recent finance reports. Fondren has raised $5,582 and spent $4,982. He has $1,200 cash on hand. Washer has raised $200 — enough to cover her qualifying fee — and has no cash on hand.

The general election is Nov. 8.