JACKSON — Mayor Johnny L. DuPree of Hattiesburg, president of the Mississippi Municipal League has appointed Mayor Phillip West of Natchez as chairman of the MML 2007-2008 Legislative Committee.

In his position, West will lead the lobbying efforts of the MML during the upcoming 2008 Legislative Session.

“I am very pleased that West will be leading our legislative efforts. His experience serving in the state legislature and as a mayor will enable him to provide the kind of leadership and direction that MML needs to be successful,” DuPree said.

Prior to being elected mayor of Natchez, West served as State Representative of District 94 for Adams, Jefferson and Franklin counties from 1997 to 2004. He also recently served as chairman of the Mississippi Legislative Black Caucus.

In addition, he is a former Adams County supervisor for five terms (1980-1997) and the first black president of the Adams County Board of Supervisors. He has also served as chairman of the Mississippi Association of Supervisors Minority Caucus and chairman of the Adams County Democratic Party. Since his election as mayor of Natchez, he has been appointed to the Momentum Mississippi Economic Development Committee for the State of Mississippi by Gov. Haley Barbour and to the Mississippi Municipal League Board of Directors. He has also served as a member of the Community Development and Housing Committee for the U.S. Conference of Mayors and as chairman for the Southwest Mississippi area for the Governor’s Commission on Recovery, Rebuilding & Renewal.

“It’s an honor to have been selected to serve in such a prestigious position and I look forward to working with our Legislative Committee and the MML staff during the upcoming session,” West said.