Kathy Chism

Kathy L. Chism
Member of the Mississippi Senate from the 3rd district
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 7, 2020
Preceded byNickey Browning
Personal details
Born (1957-08-22) August 22, 1957 (age 67)
Aurora, Illinois, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
Children1
Alma materNortheast Mississippi Community College
Itawamba Community College
OccupationRealtor, auctioneer, business owner

Kathy L. Chism (born August 22, 1957) is an American politician, serving in the Mississippi State Senate from the 3rd district since 2020.

Early life and education

Born in Aurora, Illinois, Chism moved to Mississippi and attended Myrtle High School in Union County. After graduating, she attended Northeast Community College and Itawamba Community College.[1]

Career

Chism has as a realtor, auctioneer, and business owner.[1] In 2019, she ran for a Mississippi State Senator for the 3rd district, which includes portions of Benton, Ponotoc, and Union counties.[2] She got 50.8% percent of the vote in the Republican primary runoff and 75.3% in the general election; she assumed office on January 7, 2020.[2]

For the 2024 session, she serves on the Enrolled Bills, Ethics, Executive Contingent Fund, Investigative State Offices, Labor, and State Library committees.[1]

Political positions

Chism has advocated for improvements regarding Mississippi's public education system. Prior to taking her seat, she called for a salary increase for public educators, a statewide public pre-K, and more opportunities for career and technical programs.[3]

In 2020, she filed a bill that would require health insurance agencies to help cover health care costs for hearing-impaired children.[4] The bill died in committee.[5] She filed an amicus brief against medical marijuana to the Mississippi Supreme Court and later voted against a separate senate bill creating a medical marijuana program.[6][7] She voted against an economic development project for northern Mississippi.[8] She voted against early in-person voting legislation.[9]

She was against changing the Mississippi State Flag. Chism was one of 14 senators to vote against the bill to change the Mississippi flag,[10] arguing the people of Mississippi should be allowed to vote on the decision.[11]

Personal life

Chism is a member of Union County Women, National Realtors Association, N. E. Board of Realtors, Republican Party Mississippi, and Mississippi Auctioneer. She is married and has one child and four grandchildren. She is a Baptist.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Kathy Chism". Mississippi State Senate. Retrieved March 15, 2021.
  2. ^ a b "Kathy Chism". Ballotpedia. Retrieved October 10, 2020.
  3. ^ Vance, Taylor (January 4, 2020). "Kathy Chism seeks to improve public education in Legislature". Daily Journal. Retrieved October 10, 2020.
  4. ^ Johnson, David (2020-02-12). "Local lawmaker files bill requiring health insurance agencies to cover costs of hearing-impaired child care". Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal. Retrieved 2024-03-31.
  5. ^ "Mississippi SB2268 | 2020 | Regular Session". LegiScan. Retrieved 2024-03-31.
  6. ^ Corder, Frank (2020-12-16). "Amicus briefs pile up in support of Madison Mayor's case against Medical Marijuana Initiative 65". Magnolia Tribune. Retrieved 2024-03-31.
  7. ^ Ulmer, Sarah (2022-01-26). "Mississippi Legislature has passed a bonafide medical marijuana program". Magnolia Tribune. Retrieved 2024-03-31.
  8. ^ Pittari, Jeremy; Ulmer, Sarah (2024-01-18). "Lawmakers approve economic development project for North Mississippi". Magnolia Tribune. Retrieved 2024-03-31.
  9. ^ Ulmer, Sarah (2024-03-13). "Early in-person voting legislation passes Mississippi Senate". Magnolia Tribune. Retrieved 2024-03-31.
  10. ^ Bologna, Giacomo (June 27, 2020). "Here is how each lawmaker voted on the Mississippi state flag resolution". Clarion-Ledger. Retrieved October 10, 2020.
  11. ^ Mitchell, Josh (July 2, 2020). "People were 'deprived' of right to vote on flag, Chism says". Daily Journal. Retrieved October 10, 2020.