A record crowd was on hand for MEC's Hobnob Mississippi.

Business Leader Jim Barksdale Highlights
Hobnob With Keynote Address on Education 

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from all Hobnob 2011 Speakers

Business leader Jim Barksdale provided the keynote address at MEC’s Hobnob Mississippi -- one of the premier political gatherings for business, political and community leaders from around the state.

It was 10th anniversary of Hobnob and with it falling on an election year a record crowd estimated at 1,500 was in attendence. Candidates for Statewide office allong with Gov. Haley Barbour spoke. The day was capped off by a performance by the Capitol Steps and the traditional Hobnob lunch. 

Appearing were candidates for governor, Republican Phil Bryant and Democrat Johnny Dupree, as well as Lt. Governor candidate Tate Reeves. Bryant is currently Mississippi's lieutenant governor and Dupree is mayor of Hattiesburg. Reeves is the state treasurer.

Also speaking were Attorney General Jim Hood and his Republican challenger Steve Simpson; agriculture commissioner candidates, Cindy Hyde-Smith, a Republican, and Joel Gill, a Democrat; and Connie Moran, the Democratic nominee for state treasurer. Lynn Fitch, the Republican nominee for state treasurer, was unable to appear due to having to attend a funeral.

Mike Chaney, Insurance Commissioner and his Democratic challenger Louis Fondren, State Auditor Stacey Pickering and Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann, rounded out the list of candiates.

The morning began with a live broadcast by SuperTalK Mississippi of the Paul Gallo Show.

Gov. Haley Barbour	Business Leader Jim Barksdale
Jackson State University Sonic Boom	The Capitol Steps

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