Bennie Thompson
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Bennie G. Thompson (born January 28, 1948) is a American politician from the Democratic Party. He has been a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from the 2nd District of Mississippi (map (http://nationalatlas.gov/printable/images/preview/congdist/ms02_109.gif))since 1993.
Thompson is a native of Bolton, Mississippi and served as an alderman, then mayor of that city and he was next elected to the Hinds County Board of Supervisors.
A special election was held in April 1993 for the 2nd Congressional seat of Mississippi due to the resignation of incumbent Mike Espy to become Secretary of Agriculture under President Clinton. Thompson handily won that election and subsequently was re-elected several times overwhelming, though in 2002 and 2004, Republican challenger Clinton LeSueur won over 40% in those two races.
Thompson is currently the ranking Democratic member on the U.S. House Committee on Homeland Security.
In 1975, Thompson became one of the original plantiffs in the Ayers Case which concerned the adequate funding of predominantly black educational institutes in Mississippi.
He is married to the former London Johnson of Mound Bayou, Mississippi and has one daughter, BendaLonne, and one grand-daugther, Jenna.
External link
- Official site (http://benniethompson.house.gov/)