Honorable Phil Bryant

Lieutenant Governor
P.O. Box 1018
Jackson, MS 39215

Honorable Billy Hewes

Senator, President Pro Tem
11497 Highway 49 N
Gulfport, MS 39503

RE: Redistricting

Dear Lt. Gov. Bryant and Sen. Hewes,

As the top conservative leaders in the Mississippi Senate, it may soon be up to you to ensure
that the state House redistricting plan, drafted and promoted by the Democratic leadership, is once
again not allowed to move forward. As you are well aware, the House plan overpacks conservative
districts while underpacking the incumbents’ districts who supported the Democratic Speaker in 2008; it
intentionally draws out conservative challengers to the Democratic House leadership; it breaks up
communities of interest and infringes on the one-man, one vote principle; and it significantly
marginalizes the voice of thousands of conservative Mississippians. Such political malice must be
properly noted and swiftly defeated.

Speculation is swirling that House Democrats will attempt this week to attach their redistricting
plan to the Senate’s redistricting proposal making its way between the chambers. Given the
composition of the House, such a proposal would likely pass and would then be sent back to your
chamber for concurrence. The vote to concur or not will be the single most defining vote the Mississippi
Senate will take for the next 10 years. The question both of you must ask of your fellow conservative
and Republican members even now is, “Will you vote to concur with the House adopted Senate
redistricting plan if the House Democrat plan is attached?”

Now is not the time to mince words or actions, gentlemen. This is a battle that must be won by
every available means including using every parliamentary remedy available. We have seen leaders in
other states use drastic parliamentary tactics to help obtain a fair outcome, and this vote is certainly
that important. For the sake of Mississippi’s future, you must demand the word of your colleagues to
reject the House Democrat redistricting plan. Ask for commitments in writing before a vote is held and
share these with the public so conservatives in Mississippi know who the true conservatives in the state
Senate really are. In this election year, neither you nor any other conservative actively seeking office
should consider straddling the fence on such an issue.
 This vote is a referendum on the House Democratic leadership and Speaker Billy McCoy.
Conservatives and Republicans in the state Senate must understand that if they vote to concur with the
House plan attached to the Senate proposal they are endorsing the leadership of Speaker McCoy and his
cohorts, while selling their fellow conservatives in the state House down the river. Considering how far
we have come in Mississippi, do the leaders of the Senate really want to be the reason McCoy and his
Democratic leadership team is allowed to hold power for the next 10 years simply because some do not
want to run twice or fear reprimand from the local newspaper? Should fairness, communities of
interest, and proper representation in Mississippi take a backseat to incumbent self-preservation?
Absolutely not!

We urge you to petition your conservative and Republican colleagues in the state Senate today
and firm up the commitments to not concur on any possible House action that may come to your
chamber with the House Democrat redistricting plan attached. We also encourage you to specifically
publish the whip count in opposition to such action so the citizens of Mississippi will be fully informed
and can help change the minds of those Republicans who would put their own interests ahead of
Mississippi conservatives. Ultimately, forcing this into conference would make a huge difference in
achieving a fair result.

Thank you for your time and for what you do for the great state of Mississippi. Conservatives
across Mississippi are relying on your leadership in this effort.

Sincerely,

Frank Corder and Ricky Bishop

Co-editors of FireMcCoy.com

Emails:
frank@frankcorder.com
rickybishop00@gmail.com