President-elect Joe Bidenâs choice of former Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack as his U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary should bode well for Mississippi farmers whose agriculture production value was $7.35 billion in 2020.
As a former mayor, state legislator, governor, and dairy industry advocate, Vilsack brings a wealth of experience to the job. He served eight years as the head of USDA during the administration of President Barack Obama. The Biden appointment will position Vilsack to become the second longest-serving USDA secretary since fellow Iowan James Wilson headed the agency from 1897 to 1913.
Vilsack, 69, is no stranger to Mississippi.
During his prior tenure at the helm of USDA, Vilsack toured the devastation of the 2011 F5 tornado that slammed Smithville and other Mississippi and Alabama communities. Vilsack joined then-Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour, former Department of Human Services Secretary Janet Napolitano, former Federal Emergency Administrator Craig Fugate, Sma
Hoffman Estates candidates stay on ballot
A Hoffman Estates ballot objection has been resolved with all filed candidates remaining eligible for the April 6 village board election. Mark Welsh | Staff Photographer, 2013
Updated 12/23/2020 1:26 PM
The Hoffman Estates electoral board has ruled against an objection to the candidacies of a slate of challengers for four village board positions, and all the candidates who filed last month will still appear on the April 6 ballot.
Resident Andrew Nawrocki had filed an objection to the nominating petitions of the Hoffman Estates Forward slate mayoral candidate Mark Mueller and trustee hopefuls James Murre, Renee Robinson and Gaurav Patel on the basis they didn t name Kane County but only Cook County as the village s geographical location.
Hoffman Estates to ask voters about streetlights, bike racks, car charging stations Should Hoffman Estates should require new commercial buildings to provide electric car charging stations? That s one of three advisory referendum questions village officials are putting on the April 6 ballot. Daily Herald File Photo, 2011
Hoffman Estates officials are putting advisory referendum questions regarding street lighting, electric car charging stations and bike racks on the April 6 ballot. Joe Lewnard | Staff Photographer, 2017
Updated 12/9/2020 11:14 PM
In addition to choosing candidates for the village board, Hoffman Estates voters will be asked to weigh in on three advisory referendum questions on the April 6 ballot.