Association retains services of HDPS
MPA/MPS has retained the services of Hayes Dent Public Strategies, a Jackson-based firm, to serve as its representative at the capitol and act as an advocate for MPA’s 110 member publications. Under terms of the agreement, HDPS began representing MPA Dec. 1.
Hayes Dent, chairman of the firm, is a former executive director of the Delta Regional Authority, a federal-state partnership agency created to foster development in that region. He has also worked in the Congressional Affairs Office for the United States Department of Agriculture and in the administration of Gov. Kirk Fordice. Business partner Steve Browning previously served as executive director of Mississippians for Economic Progress, a non-profit coalition of trade and medical associations. It was during his tenure at MFEP the state legislature passed the 2004 Tort Reform Act. He has also served as an aide to Sen. Trent Lott.
The pair have met with MPA Governmental Affairs Chairman Jim Prince, publisher of the Madison County Journal and the Neshoba Democrat, concerning the association’s 2008 legislative agenda. Items of interest include continued efforts to pass uniform incident report legislation, assisting with further sunshine law initiatives, protecting public notices in newspapers and monitoring tax reform proposals.
Dent and Browning are expected to attend portions of the Mid-Winter Conference in January and will be officially introduced to the membership during the event.