I am Erik R. Fleming and I am a candidate for the United States Senate in 2008. First, I want to thank the citizens of the state for allowing me the opportunity to be the Democratic nominee for the US Senate in 2006 and for the residents of House District 72 on giving me the chance to represent them in the State Capitol for nine legislative sessions.

I am running in this race because there is work still to be done toward the agenda of empowerment I set forth in January of 1999. I have worked tirelessly to pursue that agenda for all Mississippians.

While in the Mississippi Legislature, I had the distinction of annually introducing more legislation than any other member of the House. Through diligence and commitment, I passed legislation to improve the lives of our citizens, whether it has been restoring the right to vote to several residents or passing the Mississippi Clean Air Act, so that the places your tax dollars pay for are healthy environments for you to do business in.

Through my participation on the Transportation Committee, I successfully pushed legislation to create a primary seat belt law and to make our railroad crossings safer throughout the state. I have also been successful through my work on the Judiciary B Committee to classify disabled citizens as vulnerable adults for the purpose of enhancing penalties for crimes against them; decreasing the proliferation of “no-tell” motels to reduce the elements of crime in our communities and guaranteeing that drunk drivers, if they are involved in an accident which takes a human life, are not released on their own recognizance.

In nine years of service, I can take pride in those accomplishments but, as stated before, the work is not complete. People that work overtime still need a tax break, children that are “at-risk” still need their rights toward a quality education protected, citizens need access to affordable health care and economic development opportunities still need to be open for individuals, communities and the municipalities that comprise the state of Misissippi.

Help me take this record of accomplishment and commitment to Washington, DC on behalf of the citizens of Mississippi. I humbly ask for your support as I seek to continue the opportunity to serve you. May God continue to bless you, be with you and keep you in His favor always.