By JOEL McNEECE
Rep. Jim Beckett, of Bruce, has been appointed chairman of the Public Utilities Committee by Mississippi House Speaker Phillip Gunn.

It’s Beckett’s first chairmanship since being elected to the Legislature in 2003.
Beckett’s other committee appointments include Appropriations, Public Property, Judiciary A, Rules, Legislative Reapportionment, and Congressional Reapportionment.
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“I am extremely grateful to Speaker Gunn for giving me the opportunity to serve as Chairman of Public Utilities and my other committee assignments,” Beckett said. “I hope to use my position on Legislative Redistricting to make sure all of Calhoun County is in the same House District.
“As a member of the Appropriations committee I will have a greater influence on the funding for our state agencies, and I will be in a better position to look out for the interest of our district.
“And as Chairman of Public Utilities I will be working with my committee and others to try and insure the availability of affordable and dependable utilities for our district and the state.”
Rep. Preston Sullivan, of Okolona, who represents the Vardaman area primarily in Calhoun County, was named chairman of the Agriculture committee. He was also picked to serve on Appropriations, Conservation and Water Resources, County Affairs, Energy, Legislative Budget Committee and Public Property,
Rep. Kevin Horan, of Grenada, who defeated Sid Bondurant in Dist. 24, which represents southwest Calhoun County, was appointed to Energy, Fees and Salaries of Public Officers, Judiciary B, Medicaid, Public Health and Human Services and Transportation.