Published: August 18, 2008 11:48 pm      

Sen. Wicker to hold town hall meeting today

U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker will hold a town hall meeting at Union Station today.

At the meeting, which will run from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., Wicker will take questions from the public.

Wicker will also visit Decatur today, touring the Newton County Courthouse and some local businesses. He will be at the courthouse in Decatur around 4:15 p.m.

Wicker is running for U.S. Senate against former Gov. Ronnie Musgrove. They are vying for the senate seat vacated by Trent Lott. Wicker, a Republican, was appointed to the seat by Gov. Haley Barbour, and will try to keep it in the election Nov. 4.

Musgrove toured counties in North Mississippi Monday. He plans to meet with voters in Meridian on Monday, Aug. 11.

Wicker has participated in town hall meetings in Gulfport and Hattiesburg, said Jahan Wilcox, a Wicker campaign aide. "He really enjoys going out and doing these town hall meetings," Wilcox said.

Wicker receives some of his support from the state Republican Party, which is gearing up for election season. The Party has a "victory fund" set-up to aid Republicans in the state who are running for federal elections, according to Brad White, a Party official.

"We'll be working hand-in-hand with each of the campaigns," White said.

Meridian may also eventually become home to a regional office of the state Republican Party, White said. Recently, a Democratic regional office was dedicated here.

"We are planning on opening up some regional offices," White said. "We're not sure where they're going to be yet, but I imagine there will be one in Meridian, East Mississippi area."

White said the Party is planning on opening the offices with money they raise themselves through donations, not through funding from the national Republican Party.