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Congressman Travis Childers (left) talks politics and other issues with Grenada County Chancery Clerk Johnny Hayward (center) and District Five Supervisor Chad Gray during a stop in Grenada yesterday. Staff Photo/ Allen Baswell
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By ALLEN BASWELL
Staff Writer
In the five months Travis Childers has served as Mississippi’s congressman for the first district, he said he has accomplished many things in a short time.
Childers, a Democrat from Booneville, made those remarks yesterday during a stop in Grenada. He met with volunteers, constituents and local officials.
Childers said one of his proudest accomplishments was standing up to the oil companies.
“When I campaigned, I promised to stand up to big oil companies. I voted to end price gouging and to stop false price speculation. By doing this, I think this has had a positive impact on gas prices dropping,” he said.
Childers said he belongs to a group among Democratic senators known as the “Blue Dog Democrats.”
“It is the conscience of the United States,” he said.
Childers said he is not hung up on political labels, but he does not consider himself a liberal.
“In my business practices, I have always been fiscally-conservative. I still maintain that belief” he said.
Because of his beliefs, Childers said he voted against the budget and against the bailout plan.
“Even though it was my party’s budget, I still voted against it because the spending in Washington is out of control. They need to learn to live within their means, just like the people whom I represent in North Mississippi,” he said.
On the bailout plan, Childers said it was fundamentally wrong.
“It is wrong to ask the citizens of North Mississippi to bail out Wall Street,” he said.
Childers said he campaigned on the promise he would work with both Democrats and Republicans to get things done.
“I authored a gun bill that was passed by 70 percent of Republicans and 40 percent of the Democrats. Through bi-partisan help, things can get done,” he said.
Grenada was one of four stops Childers made yesterday. He met with local officials in Okolona, Houston, and Ackerman.
“The supervisors are my friends. I understand them, and they understand me. We’ve been in the same ditch together,” he said.
Grenada County Chancery Clerk Johnny Hayward said because Childers has served in county government before, he knows the challenges county officials face.
Childers served as Chancery Clerk in Prentiss County for 16 years before he was elected as congressman. He defeated Southaven Mayor Greg Davis in a special election in May to serve the remainder of Roger Wicker’s term. Wicker was appointed to fill the remainder of Senator Trent Lott’s term when Lott resigned.
Childers and Davis square off in the Nov. 4 general election for a full two-year term.
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