ANDERSON PUSHES FOR LOWER INSURANCE RATES

OPPONENT REJECTS "NO INSURANCE MONEY PLEDGE," POCKETS INDUSTRY MONEY BY THOUSANDS

Biloxi, Mississippi - Insurance Commissioner Candidate Gary Anderson held a press conference at historic Mary Mahoney's in Biloxi to address Mississippi's insurance crisis. He reaffirmed his pledge to NOT take money from big insurance or their executives and his plans to lower insurance costs in our state.

"I want to reduce fraud and waste in the system and aggressively investigate and punish those who commit insurance fraud, including insurance companies themselves," said Anderson at the press conference. "I will fight for plain English policies. Let's remove confusing language from insurance policies so Mississippians can understand their insurance coverage," Anderson continued.

Gary Anderson reaffirmed his pledge to remain independent of big insurance. Anderson said, "Back in June, I promised the people of Mississippi that I would not accept contributions from insurance companies. I haven't taken a single dime from big insurance because it's just plain wrong to take money from an industry you are responsible to regulate. You can't protect the pocketbooks of the ratepayer if you are in the back pocket of big insurance."

Anderson said his independence from the insurance industry is one of the main differences between himself and Mike Chaney. Chaney flip-flopped on his promise not to take money from the industry he would be charged with regulating as insurance commissioner. According to Chaney's own financial disclosure, he has taken thousands from insurance since he entered the race for insurance commissioner.

Anderson also pointed out that Mike Chaney wanted to make the Insurance Commissioner position appointed not elected, saying Chaney wanted to take away the right of the voter to elect or remove the state's sole insurance rate setting authority.

Anderson said he would use his over 25 years of experience working in the public and private sectors to encourage competition in the insurance marketplace. He announced he would use his economic and community development experience to help speed up recovery along the Gulf Coast. Anderson has served as the state's Chief Fiscal Officer as well as the Director of Community Development.

Gary was born and raised on his family's farm in Byhalia, Mississippi where his mother, a retired schoolteacher and his father, a farmer and retired fireman still call home. Gary and his wife of 25 years, Debra Miller of Vicksburg, live in Jackson.

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