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Senate Committee Advises and Consents to Three State Board of Animal Health Nominees
Summary
A Mississippi State Senate committee advised and consented to three nominees to the State Board of Animal Health — reappointing Jody Wagner and approving Dr. Mike Thompson and Dr. Randy Laurel Cran — while asking nominees to complete statements of economic interest before final processing.
A Mississippi State Senate committee on animal health advised and consented to three nominations to the State Board of Animal Health, moving each nomination to the Senate floor for final confirmation.
Jody Wagner of Hickory, nominated for reappointment to represent the general farmer, spoke to the committee about his background as a cow-calf producer and his involvement in the poultry industry and Farm Bureau. Senator McCaughn urged approval, saying, "Jody's a pretty good dude," and noted that he and Wagner would address minor issues in Wagner's statement of economic interest before final paperwork. The committee voted to advise and consent to Wagner's reappointment.
Veterinarian Mike Thompson described a career rooted in rural practice, saying, "I was raised on a cow calf and row crop farm," and detailed his work at mixed-animal practices in Holly Springs and New Albany. Senator Hill asked about heartworm prevention; Dr. Thompson explained that some resistance to preventatives exists and that annual testing is still recommended. The committee voted to advise and consent to the block of nominations that included Dr. Thompson.
The committee also carried Senate nomination No. 9 for Dr. Randy Laurel Cran of Hattiesburg, nominated to represent poultry breeders and producers; the chair noted Dr. Cran was unable to attend because she is a new mother and said the committee's peer review found no derogatory information. Committee staff will follow up to obtain required statements of economic interest for the nominees before final administrative processing.
Votes at a glance: Jody Wagner (Senate Nom. No. 11) — committee advised and consented; block nominations including Dr. Mike Thompson (Sen. Nos. 10, 85, 86, as referenced by the chair) — committee advised and consented; Dr. Randy Laurel Cran (Sen. No. 9) — committee advised and consented. Motions to "advise and consent" were made on the record and carried. The committee carried the nominations to the next step on the Senate floor; no derogatory peer-report findings were recorded during the hearing.
The committee concluded its business and indicated staff would follow up with nominees to resolve administrative items such as the statements of economic interest.
