Jim Stephens, Co-Chair of Donald J. Trump for President, Lafayette County
Criminal justice, 1982
DM: Tell us about what you do and how you got to where you are now with the Trump Campaign.
JS: I’ve been a Republican all my life. I know that Mississippi used to be a totally Democratic state at one time. My grandfather (Hubert D. Stephens) was a United States Senator for Mississippi, 1922-1936. He was a Democrat. He was in the Senate in Washington D.C.; a staunch Democrat. I’m sure my parents were staunch Democrats. But, again, once I became of age and I became somewhat politically educated, and academically educated, I became a Conservative, and I’ve been one all my adult life. I think that way, I act that way. The Republican platform is a fiscally conservative platform per say, and I would agree with that, I live by that, and I think that is the way this country should go. I would support the Republican nominee no matter who that person was. I am glad it was Mr. Trump. Steve is actually the one to get me involved in the Trump Campaign, and I am very glad to help him out and to assist him in the process.
DM: How were you involved with politics as an Ole Miss student and how did that play into your career now?
JS: I really was not involved in politics as a student. I come from a political family, as I mentioned. My great- great grandfather was a fellow court judge in Mississippi. My grandfather was a United States Senator. We had a good amount of lawyers in the family. It’s hard not to look at politics in a certain way. But, I like politics, I like to think about it, I like to talk about it. I’ve never wanted to hold political office, per say, but I do enjoy talking about politics, thinking about it, listening to it, and asserting my opinion about how things are going. But, I was not involved in politics at Ole Miss or in the college setting. I just didn’t have that opportunity.
DM: This year’s election cycle has been almost unanimously regarded to be highly historic in nature. Why do you think that is?
JS: The two parties could not be more polarized than they are right now. And I understand that each candidate has their unfavorable situations, as they are. I know Mr. Trump may have his disadvantages, but he is by far, I mean there is no comparison in these two people, that he is the better qualified person to lead this country in the mess that we find ourselves in. And, make no mistake, we are in a mess.
DM: As we approach the RNC, what sort of role do you see the state of Mississippi playing at the convention?
JS: Mississippi, being one of the 50 delegations to the Republican National Convention, I hope that we will as a delegation get behind Mr. Trump and support him and not bolster to what some of the Bill Crystal led coalitions want to do — they want to take away some of (Trump’s) delegates. I hope Mississippi doesn’t do that. I hope that we stand firm in the fact the we support the Republican nominee, Donald Trump, and that we do everything we can to make sure he is elected as our next president.
DM: The Mississippi primary had an overwhelming majority vote for Trump. Why do you think Mississippians voted in this way and what do you think this says about the political status of the state?
JS: At one time, Mississippi was a totally Democratic state. If you would have even though that we would have a Republican governor and two Republican senators, and a majority of our congressional delegation would be Republican 50 or 60 years ago, people would probably burn you at the stake. But, I do believe that we in the South, especially in Mississippi, are very conservative. For me, it may resonate for so many others, I can’t answer that for sure, but again, as I mentioned, both parties basically want the same thing, but how we get there is two separate avenues. I really do believe that most Mississippian have come to realize that the Democratic party does not speak for them, does not address their core value, and the Republican Party with states’ rights, less government, more border control, not being forced to have things driven down their throats, most people don’t like that. I think most Mississippians are conservative. They identify with the Republican Party. I don’t think they identify, the majority, with the Democratic Party anymore, and that is why we have so many elected Republican officials in our state. And, why Mississippi, I think this time forward, for a while, will be a Republican led state.
DM: What do you think Trump will bring for the state of Mississippi if elected?
JS: He will bring jobs. And, jobs are so crucial. You hear people talk about building a wall. Just look at Europe, we cannot continue to have open borders continuously. No one knows the number of illegal immigrants in this country.We cannot continue to operate like that. We can’t do it from a standpoint of economics. We just can’t. And I think people are sick and tired of us trying to support so many people that come here illegally. If you come here legally that’s another story. But, I believe he will bring the immigration process to a halt in some respects. I’m not sure you could ever do it 100 percent, but he will sure nip it in the bud. But he will bring jobs back to Mississippi that we haven’t had in a long time. He will bring manufacturing back to Mississippi, which we have lost. And, he will bring a pride back to Mississippi that we can continue to build on. So, those are just some of the things that I think he will bring to our state. He’ll make us great again.
DM: What action do you urge Mississippians to take as we approach the general election?
JS: Vote. Get out and vote. I have worked election polls in different counties for 11 years. I am in a precinct where we have partially 6,500 eligible voters, and I would say that around 15-25 percent vote in every election. That is just unacceptable. First of all you need to listen to what is being said and form an opinion. Secondly you need to back up that opinion, whatever it is, you need to get out on Nov. 8 and vote, whatever your conviction.
