Tate Reeves

Jonathon Tate Reeves (born June 5, 1974), better known as Tate Reeves, is an American Republican politician who is the 32nd and current Lieutenant Governor of Mississippi. Reeves was earlier elected as Mississippi’s 33rd Treasurer on November 4, 2003 and re-elected to a second term in 2007. He is the first Republican treasurer in the state’s history.^[1] Reeves holds the Chartered Financial Analyst designation (CFA) and is a member of the CFA Society of Mississippi and the CFA Institute, an investment industry organization. In 1996, he was the recipient of the Mississippi Society of Financial Analysts Award.

Early years and education

Reeves is a Rankin County native and a graduate of Florence High School. He is an honors graduate of Millsaps College and earned a bachelor’s degree in economics. While at Millsaps, he played one year as a point guard for the Millsaps Majors basketball team and was a member of Kappa Alpha Order. Reeves has continued to be an active alumnus and remains involved with his alma mater by serving as a member of the investment policy board for the Millsaps College General Louis Wilson Fund and a member the Advisory Committee of the Else School of Management.

Early career

After graduation, Reeves pursued a career in banking and finance in Jackson, Mississippi. He was Assistant Vice President for AmSouth, formerly Deposit Guaranty National Bank, and served as a Senior Investment Analyst and member of the Investment Policy Committee.^[2] In 2000, Reeves became an Investment Officer for Trustmark National Bank in Jackson.

Political career

2003 State treasurer campaign

Reeves entered the 2003 GOP primary election and faced former transportation commissioner Wayne Burkes of Brandon and state representative Andrew Ketchings of Natchez. Reeves performed well in counties that were GOP strongholds, such as Lamar, Desoto, and Rankin.. In the three-man GOP primary, Reeves led with 49 percent of the vote,^[3] and routed Burkes in the primary run-off.^[4]

In the general election, Reeves defeated Democratic nominee Gary Anderson, the state's director of finance and administration. Reeves had 52 percent of the vote compared to Anderson's 48 percent.^[5]

2007 Treasurer election

Unopposed in the GOP primary, Reeves' only Democratic opposition in the 2007 general election was perennial candidate Shawn O' Hara. Reeves was re-elected with 61% of the vote.

As treasurer

As treasurer, Reeves served as president of the National Association of State Treasurers (NAST) for 2006-2007. He serves as a member and former chairman of the Long Range Planning Committee and is a member of the Federal Legislative Committee. He was previously a member of the NAST Executive Committee. Reeves represents the State of Mississippi as a member of the Executive Board of the College Savings Plans Network. He serves on the Board of Trustees for the Public Employees’ Retirement System of Mississippi, and is the Chairman of the Board of Directors of College Savings Plans of Mississippi and the Mississippi Health Care Trust Fund.

In 2007, Reeves was named as one of 42 national “Rising Star(s) in the Republican Party” by Rising Tide magazine – the publication of the Republican National Committee. In 2008, Reeves was elected President of the Mississippi Republican Elected Officials Association. In December 2008, he was selected by the Aspen Institute’s Rodel Fellowships in Public Leadership as one of their “Top Young Elected Officials” to its Fourth Class of Aspen-Rodel Fellows. Reeves was recognized by his NAST peers as the recipient of the Jesse M. Unruh Award which recognized his outstanding service to the association, the profession, and to his state.

2011 Lieutenant governor campaign

In February 2011, Reeves officially launched a campaign for Lieutenant Governor.^[6] Reeves held a fundraising lead over his primary opponent, Mississippi State Senate President Pro Tempore Billy Hewes of Gulfport. A May 2011 poll of likely Republican voters showed Reeves with a 51-18 percent advantage over Hewes.^[7] On August 2, 2011, Reeves defeated Billy Hewes. On November 8, he was elected 32nd Lieutenant Governor of Mississippi to succeed Phil Bryant, who was elected to his first term as governor.^[8]

2015 reelection

Reeves won reelection as lieutenant governor on November 3, 2015, having defeated three opponents, including state Senator Timothy L. Johnson, a Republican-turned-Democrat.^[9] Newspaper reporting on the misuse of statewide public official's campaign funds indicate that the candidate did not misuse these funds. Non-election year expenses went towards campaign-related items such as computer databases or political travel.^[10]

Electoral history

References

Lieutenant Governors of Mississippi
Stewart Patton Dickson Brandon Scott Winston office abolished 1832–70 Powers Davis Stone Sims Shands Evans Jones Harrison Carter Manship Bilbo Russell Casteel Murphree Adam Murphree Snider Murphree Wright Lumpkin Gartin Johnson Gartin Sullivan Winter Gandy Dye Briggs Musgrove Tuck Bryant Reeves