Committee advises and consents to David Shane Livingston; members flag missing filings for another appointee

A Senate committee advised and consented to the reappointment of David Shane Livingston to the Mississippi Transportation Commission appeals board during a committee meeting. Members also noted that another reappointment under consideration lacked required filings with state offices.

The committee recorded the motion to "advise and consent" and approved Livingston’s reappointment on a voice vote after members expressed no opposition. Senator Barrett made the motion to advise and consent.

The reappointment drew limited formal debate. Committee members said an earlier nominee — identified in the transcript as "Mister Serenti" (also transcribed as "Sorenti") and described as a reappointment from Washington County, Greenville — had not filed a statement of economic interest with the ethics commission and did not have an oath on record with the Secretary of State as required by statute. A committee member said, "We're gonna get him to do that. We will get him to do that." The committee noted there was "nothing derogatory" against that nominee and the member had been told he did not have to appear.

David Shane Livingston spoke to the committee about his background before members voted. Livingston said, "My hometown is, Bogochutta, Mississippi. I've been there for the past 30 years or more." He described a career in the timber business stretching from high school through college, a forestry degree, ownership of a logging and timber company and experience with heavy hauling and trucking. He said those experiences would help him contribute to the appeals board and that he is married with four children.

Senator Bridal asked a scheduling question during the proceedings; Senator England and Senator Williams were also named during the discussion. After Barrett’s motion, the committee chair called for the ayes, there were no recorded objections and the committee moved on.

No formal vote tally (number of yes, no, abstain votes) or seconding member was recorded verbatim in the transcript; the motion passed by voice vote according to the meeting record. The committee also noted that the other nominee’s missing filings would be pursued with the relevant state offices.

The committee did not adopt any additional conditions on Livingston’s appointment in the portion of the transcript provided. The record shows the committee’s action to advise and consent and the committee noting statutory filing requirements for the other reappointment candidate.