Mississippi Senate budget leader running for state treasurer

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) – A Mississippi state senator who is one of the top budget writers says he’s running for state treasurer in 2019.

Republican Sen. Buck Clarke of Hollandale announced his candidacy Wednesday.

The current state treasurer, Republican Lynn Fitch, is preparing to run for attorney general.

Clarke has been a certified public accountant since 1979. He was elected to the Mississippi Senate in 2003 and is entering his eighth year as chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee.

He said in a news release that government holds people back when it spends too much.

Mississippi voters in 2019 will elect statewide officials, transportation and public service commissioners, legislators and county officials.

Candidates’ qualifying deadline is March 1. Party primaries are in August, and the general election is in November.

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