JACKSON, Miss.–Former Kosciusko mayor Jimmy Cockroft has been made part of new Speaker of the House Jason White’s staff. According to a news release from White’s camp, Cockroft will serve as a legislative assistant.
White, who represents parts of Attala, Holmes, Leake and Carroll counties, assumed his duties as speaker Tuesday, after his formal election as speaker.
Another Kosciusko native, Sara Bailey Jones, will serve on White’s staff as one of two Policy Advisors.
Other staff members announced Friday include:
Chief of Staff – Clarke Wise
Communications Director – Taylor Spillman
Executive Assistant & Scheduler – Tammy Cowart
Policy Advisor – Sara Bailey Jones
Policy Advisor – Chole Butler
“With the success of the Speaker election, my staff is ready to hit the ground running. I have been fortunate to work with this team throughout the campaign cycle and they all bring valuable input in their own way,” said White.
“Right now, we are preparing to have Committee Chairmen and Members placed then we will shift our focus to our policy initiatives of education, healthcare, and the Public Employees Retirement System. With this team in place, we have a strong focus to make meaningful strides for the people of our State.”
White said in a speech this week that he hopes to help make sure a system is in place to make sure working Mississippians have health care and that hospitals get paid, though he did not specifically use the term “Medicaid expansion”.
He also said he hopes to see lawmakers reform the way that schools are funded.
