Special to the Democrat

Sam C. Mims V, R-McComb, has announced his bid for re-election to the Mississippi House of Representatives for District 97, a district made up of portions of Adams, Amite, Franklin and Pike counties.

Mims was first elected in 2003 and has been committed to the citizens of District 97 since that time. 

In 2007, he was elected by the Mississippi House Republican Conference as assistant floor leader, the fifth-ranking officer of the organization. 

In 2008, the Mississippi Legislative Conservative Coalition, a bi-partisan group of 56 legislators, presented Mims with the “Spirit of the Coalition” award in recognition of his dedication in promoting conservative legislation.

At the beginning of the 2012 legislative session, Mims was appointed chairman of the Public Health and Human Services Committee and has held that chairmanship for the past eight years.  He also serves on the Appropriations, Judiciary B, Medicaid and Revenue and Expenditure General Bills committees.

Mims has been instrumental in the passage of several laws aimed at improving the quality of life for all Mississippians.  Some of that legislation includes:

* Increased penalty for sex offenders

* Creation of the Office of Physician Workforce Training

* Creation of a drug task force to collect unused medication

* Creation of a Rural Dental Scholarship Program

* Creation of exemption of certain wastewater regulations for properties in excess of two acres in size

* Clarification of right-to-carry laws

* Requirement of drug tests for TANF (welfare) recipients

* Establishment of youth concussion laws

A longtime advocate of rural hospitals and their importance to providing access to affordable healthcare for Mississippi residents, Mims is committed to the adoption of both policies and legislation to enhance the operation of rural medical facilities. An example of this commitment is his leadership in the recent creation of additional reimbursement funding sources for rural hospitals.    

Mims is a graduate of McComb High School and received a bachelor’s degree from Delta State University in 1994. He returned to McComb in 1999 and held various positions in the field of health care. 

He is presently Vice President of Business and Community Development for Merit Health, a division of Community Health Systems.   

Mims is a member of the McComb Rotary Club, the National Rifle Association and is a former chairman of the City of McComb Republican Executive Committee.

He was born in McComb and is married to the former Amy Legg of Summit. They are the parents of two daughters and one son and are members of Centenary United Methodist Church in McComb.