Chaney taking office early

Incoming Insurance Commissioner Mike Chaney will be taking over a few days early as George Dale prepares to resign on Dec. 31.

Dale is leaving early to take a mystery job. What kind of job would not let an elected official finish out 10 more days?

We'll have to wait and see... (on clarionledger.com):

Dale said Wednesday he was taking another job, which is part of the reason he was resigning early, but he would not say what it was.

“The place where I’m going to be going will be doing the announcing for me,” Dale said.

Any guesses?

Mysterious 3rd Party Expenditure Helps George Dale

That's not a headline you read before the primary election, but you should have.

While Republicans were hyperventilating about Scruggs' PAC and its TV ads another third party group was doing it's part to do a number on Gary Anderson and his reputation.

Scruggs' excuse for his ad buy was that Gary Anderson was being buried financially. George Dale had been on TV far longer and with greater saturation and he felt that if people were able to hear the other side of the story they would make the right choice. He was demonized for it.

Those same Republicans somehow missed an insurance industry sponsored two-sided glossy direct mailing attacking Gary Anderson. It was mailed to 250,000 households.



So while Republicans were crying Bloody Mary, their friends were doing the very same thing. Typical.

Geoff Pender on George Dale's Excuses

It's always interesting to hear that to which candidates and their supporters or detractors attribute their losses after an election. Tuesday's state primaries produced at least one doozie.

Long-long-longtime incumbent Insurance Commissioner George Dale, after voters decided he should focus more of his time on his lawn-mowing business and Mississippi College basketball games, opined "Dickie Scruggs' money" played the major role in his loss.

Never mind that Mississippians pay the third-highest property insurance rates in the country.

Never mind that many people have felt for years that Dale had been bought and paid for by the insurance industry, whose money he used to outspend any opponent who ever challenged him, including those Tuesday.

Never mind that some people found it disgusting that Dale had people working for him out pimping him to insurance companies for campaign contributions.

Never mind that Dale's main mantra for at least the last decade was, "don't anger the insurance companies; we're lucky they deign to do business here at all."

Never mind that when the state wind pool's house of cards, which he helped build, toppled after Katrina, people saw premiums double, triple, quadruple.

Never mind that when the state Legislature and governor wanted to draft some reforms and spend tax dollars to help people struggling after Katrina, Dale's first response was to stall in giving them information they needed, then later suggest they wait awhile before doing anything.

Never mind that Dale's administration gave up on anything even remotely resembling consumer advocacy long, long ago, or that 32 years is probably just too long for someone to run such a regulatory agency.

No, I'm sure he's right: What did him in was a lawyer giving money to a PAC that campaigned against him.

And King Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette were just misunderstood.

The king is dead. Long live the king.

The Sun Herald Article

Normalcy Long Overdue in Katrina-Ravaged Region

by Ana Maria

Two days ago, Mississippi voters in the Democratic Primary ousted Insurance Commissioner George Dale, whose cozy relationship with Big Insurance became his electoral albatross. Surely less than a year ago, Dale anticipated his re-election bid to retain the normalcy he had experienced over the last three decades of running for office.

The campaigns for newly-elected Democratic nominee Gary Anderson and his Republican opponent will recuperate from the primary, then redirect their efforts for the usual hustle and bustle of a general election, which will be held this November. Even inside the chaotic nature of every election campaign, there is a sense of normalcy to that chaos—at least for those of us who’ve been in a few.

Here inside the Katrina-ravaged region, we’re still struggling to return to a sense of normalcy. At Katrina’s ground zero, we still have Wal-Mart as our only grocery store for at least a 30 minute ride in any direction. Insurance companies continue to low ball, delay, and fight tooth and nail to break their legal contracts to pay on legitimate wind damage claims. Reliable, solid, and reasonably priced contractors to repair homes are still miraculous to find. FEMA continues to jerk around municipalities.

Jobs are scarce. More scarce are employees. More scarce still? Housing.

Even hotels are difficult to find. On reflection, that makes sense. When Big Insurance decided not to pay wind damage claims for its wind policy customers, it did screwed over all customers—including the hotels.

What is easy to find are the stories of how folks survived in those first few weeks after Katrina hit.

Read more at A.M. in the Morning!

Visit www.GeorgeDale.com For Exciting News

www.GeorgeDale.com

Yep, you found some exciting news. :)

Races I'm Watching Tonight Update 3

Democratic Primary Insurance Commissioner's Race - You Know Why
With 84% reporting Gary holds onto a 51% lead.

Republican Primary Agricultural Commissioner's Race - With Lester as the nominee Democrats can make this a race.
Lester Spell survives and will go on to be beat by Democratic candidate Rickey Cole

Democratic House Seat 115 - I'm rooting for Chip Barnes to upset DINO Randall Patterson
DINO Patterson beats Chip Barnes 69% to 31%. Look for Patterson to possibly switch parties before the next election unless he feels that he will be unable to win as a Republican in this Democratic district.

Senate District 46 on the Coast: I want Baria over Cuevas.
With 86% reporting Baria leads 53% to 47%

Senate District 10: I want Mona Pittman to win.

Senate District 51: I want Watson to beat Robertson.
With 62% reporting Watson Leads 61% to 39%. Barbour loses one of his biggest allies in the Senate.

Democratic Supervisor District 2 in Jackson County:
Melton Harris wins with 53%!

Republican Supervisor District 4 in Jackson County:
With 100% Reporting the incumbent comes in second and will face the former incumbent in the runoff.

With 78% Reporting:

93% Haley Barbour

70% John Arthur Eaves

57% Phil Bryant
43% Charlie Ross

72% Robert Smith
20% John Windsor
08% Jabari Toins

52% Delbert Hosemann
37% Michael Lott
08% Jeffrey Rupp

47% Mike Sumall
36% Todd Brand
17% Jacob Ray

55% Lester Spell
45% Max Phillips

51% Gary Anderson
49% George Dale

Races I'm Watching Tonight Update

Democratic Primary Insurance Commissioner's Race - You Know Why
Maybe he'll pull it out. We need you Gary!

Republican Primary Agricultural Commissioner's Race - With Lester as the nominee Democrats can make this a race.
Thanks Lester for a $55 million dollar boondoggle and a race in November.

Democratic House Seat 75 - There are two good Democrats, but it could be an upset.

Democratic House Seat 117 - I'm rooting for Chip Barnes to upset DINO Randall Patterson

Senate District 48 on the Coast: I want Baria over Cuevas.

Senate District 10: I want Mona Pittman to win.

Senate District 51: I want Watson to beat Robertson.

Races I'm Watching Tonight

Democratic Primary Insurance Commissioner's Race - You Know Why

Republican Primary Agricultural Commissioner's Race - With Lester as the nominee Democrats can make this a race.

Democratic House Seat 75 - There are two good Democrats, but it could be an upset.

Democratic House Seat 117 - I'm rooting for Chip Barnes to upset DINO Randall Patterson

Gary Anderson Advertising

Gary Anderson's campaign is now on the air with THIS RADIO AD claiming that Dale is stuck in the old politics of the past or "stuck in the 70s" as this commerical says. I'm inclined to agree. It is good to see the Anderson campaign finally up on the airwaves.

Also an independent group that I am unfamiliar with called Mississippians for Fair Elections is running this ad supporting Anderson:

It was captured by our friends at Right of Mississippi.

Gary Anderson Televison Ad

I saw this one for the first time this morning on the Coast.

As you may remember Ana Maria let us know that Dale is a coward and has written off the Coast. She brings us this ad now.


Gary Anderson is the best choice for Commissioner of Insurance; he deserves your vote.

George Dale At The Neshoba County Fair

"Today I don't intend to endorse anybody for President of the United States" (laughter) That's too bad, I wonder which Republican the "Democratic" Commissioner of Agriculture favors.

George Dale's Television Ad

I agree with Laura Hipp, it would have been better if the ad featured him rescuing a kitten.

George Dale's Ad in The Mississippi Democrat

Jere Nash at Red/Blue blog first alerted me to this and we at Cotton Mouth are the first up with a picture:



I think enough Democrats like myself are angry at Dale for partnering with Republicans and corporate interests that they are willing to risk selecting a real Democrat as the nominee. I also think that Gary Anderson can win.

July 10th Update: Commissioner of Insurance Edition

Candidate's Name: New Donations This Period : Expenses This Period : Current Cash On Hand

Gary Anderson (D): $22,905.00 : $14,699.79 : $47,163.70
Mike Chaney (R): $10,250.00 : $8,313.04 : $52,142.96
George Dale (D): $90,125.00 : $292,141.52 : $136,374.48



When George Dale tries to say he isn't in the pocket of the insurance companies take a look at his finance report. Almost all of his contributors are listed as either "Insurance" or "Unknown" which means they didn't say. http://www.sos.state.ms.us/PDF-Out/000000050119.pdf

Exclusive George Dale Video from Mississippi Municipal League Event

George Dale was not on the program to speak, but after a candidate didn't show up they allowed him to take their place. He spoke after Chaney and Anderson.



"I'm George Dale running for Commissioner of Insurance and I don't intend to blame anything on my predecessor." :) (Dale is the longest serving statewide elected official)

I felt his speach was the best of the three. However, his time has passed and we need new leadership on Insurance which Sen. Chaney correctly pointed out is a huge and growing expense for all Mississippians.

Update 6/29/07: Cotton Mouth contributor Ana Maria offers This Analysis of George Dale

Exclusive Gary Anderson Video from Mississippi Municipal League Event

Gary Anderson is running against incumbent George Dale for the Democratic nomination for Insurance Commissioner.

In much of the video you can see George Dale in the lower right hand corner. He sat to the side of the room and listened to the Republican And Democratic candidates who are vying for his seat.

Exclusive Mike Chaney Video From Mississippi Municipal League Event

This is the second half of Mike Chaney's stump speech. (I pulled out the camera when he pulled out a monkey)



"I don't know how you can take money from a company you're regulating, as a legislator it was hard for me to do." (he was cut off at this moment by the person keeping time.

I found it interesting that in a part of the speech I didn't record (apologies) he pretty much endorsed Dale for the position of Insurance Commissioner which is the postition Chaney is running for as a Republican.

(I failed to catch video of Chaney throwing the monkey into the crowd.)

Litigation Brings Justice to Allstate Policyholders

The Scruggs Katrina Group and Allstate Insurance Co. reached a settlement Zack Scruggs announced Monday.

From The Sun Herald:

Scruggs said a tentative agreement was reached two weeks ago and finalized Monday. Terms are undisclosed, including the number of disputed claims settled. The group had filed 280 lawsuits against Allstate in U.S. District Court in Gulfport, but the agreement also covers policyholder claims that have not resulted in lawsuits.

Allstate spokesman Mike Siemienas said, "We are pleased that these customers, who join the 99 percent of Allstate customers in Mississippi whose claims are settled, can move on with their lives...We will continue to work until all claims are resolved."

While George Dale and the Insurance industry push unfair mediation Mississippi attorneys are making things right.

Gary Anderson is Ready To Serve

Gary Anderson recently sat down with reporter Adam Lynch from the Jackson Free Press for an interview. The following are some excerpts:

Gary Anderson on What He'd Do:

My background includes economic and community development, and I look forward to marketing this state and its $10 billion book of business for insurance. If a company feels like they have insured enough people and don’t want to insure any more, I’m not going to fall down on my knees, beg and plead with them. I’m going to roll up my sleeves and get busy replacing them, getting more companies in here who will aggressively fight for and seek out the business that another company may spurn. This book of business is not as large as that of some other states, but it’s still plenty big. We have a lot of good people in this state who are not committing fraud against the insurance company, and the companies should want to do business here.

Gary Anderson on Race:

People make decisions on who they vote for based on any number of reasons: Whether the person looks good in their eyes; whether or not the person is tall or short; and yes, sometimes it creeps in whether or not a person is of a certain color or ethnic background. I realize those are some limitations in the state. But let me tell you this: I also realize that the majority of Mississippians are kind-hearted people who want good things to happen in our state. I believe that the best in the state is to come. We haven’t lived our best, yet. We’re going to see our best in the future, and I hope to be a contributor to that future when that time comes.

Gary Anderson on Dale and Insurance:

We’re just calling it like it is. We’re not trying to duck and dodge this issue. We know the insurance industry is financing his campaign. Just last week, I received a letter that one of his close friends in the insurance industry had sent out across the state saying: “We need to stand up for George because George has been good to us. He’s been communicating well with the insurance industry.” In that letter, this person asked for 200 agents to stand up for George and give $1,000 a piece, and write private checks in the amount of at least $1,000. The letter also asked insurance companies to give corporate checks in the amount of $1,000 to raise the $250,000 that he needs to fight off this Democratic opponent, referring to me. So, you know, when I see letters like that and I hear the commission say he only accepts a little money from the insurance industry, I can’t help but think that somebody’s having a difficult time telling the truth.

The entire is titled "The Regulator" and can be found by clicking THIS LINK.