Committee approves block reappointments to Mississippi community college boards

A committee meeting moved and approved a block of gubernatorial reappointments to two state higher-education boards, the committee member said. The reappointments named Henry Hudspeth of Louisville, Dolly Mariscalco of Grenada and Dr. Peggy Watson of Wesson to the Mississippi Community College Board, and Vaden Clark to the Mississippi College Savings Plan Board.

The committee member moved that the nominees be taken up "in block" and that the committee advise and consent to the reappointments. When the chair asked for a vote, members responded "Aye," and the speaker announced, "The ayes have it," indicating approval by voice vote; the transcript does not record a numerical tally or any recorded dissent. The speaker also said staff had redone background checks on the nominees and that one individual's issue would be cleared before floor consideration.

The reappointments were presented as reappointments by the governor and described by the committee member as active and valuable participants on their respective boards. The committee member noted Dr. Peggy Watson is a veterinarian in Brookhaven. The speaker said the committee will not bring the items to the floor that day and invited colleagues to raise any questions before the items are presented next week.

Votes and actions: The committee took a single block motion to "take these up in block and advise and consent," which the committee approved by voice; no mover/second names beyond the speaking committee member were recorded on the transcript and no formal numeric vote tally was provided.