American politician

Brandon Presley

Member of the Mississippi Public Service Commission
from the Northern district

Incumbent

Assumed office
January 1, 2008
Preceded by| Dorlos Robinson
Mayor of Nettleton
In office
2001–2007
Preceded by| Tommy Lee Riley
Succeeded by| R. V. Adams
Personal details
Born|  (1977-07-21) July 21, 1977 (age 45)
Amory, Mississippi, U.S.
Political party| Democratic
Relatives| Elvis Presley (second cousin)
Education| Itawamba Community College
Mississippi State University (BA)
Website| Campaign website

Brandon E. Presley (born July 21, 1977) is an American politician who has served as a member of the Mississippi Public Service Commission from the Northern District since 2008. A member of the Democratic Party, Presley previously served as the mayor of Nettleton, Mississippi, from 2001 to 2007.

## Early life[edit]

Brandon Presley was born on July 21, 1977[1] in Amory, Mississippi and raised in Nettleton. His father was an alcoholic and died when Brandon was eight years old, leaving him in the sole care of his mother.[2] His uncle, Harold Ray Presley, subsequently served as a father figure for him.[1] He studied at Itawamba Community College and Mississippi State University.[2]

## Political career[edit]

### Early activities[edit]

Presley described his politics as "Populist, FDR-Billy McCoy Democrat."[2] He managed the successful campaign of his uncle Harold for the office of Sheriff of Lee County when he was 16 years old.[3]

Presley ran for the office of Mayor of Nettleton in 2001 and won with 78 percent of the vote.[1] He was sworn-in as the mayor in July 2001. Aged 23 upon his assumption of the office, he was the youngest mayor in Mississippi's history.[3] He served until 2007.[4][5] As mayor, he crossed party lines to endorse the reelection campaign of George W. Bush in 2004.[6]

### Public Service Commissioner[edit]

On June 15, 2007, Presley declared his campaign for the office of Public Service Commissioner for the Northern District of the Mississippi Public Service Commission.[7] He defeated two other candidates in the August Democratic primary[8] and defeated Republican Mabel Murphree in the general election.[9] He was re-elected in 2011, 2015, and 2019.[10]

Presley assumed office as Public Service Commissioner for the Northern District on January 1, 2008.[11] During his first year in office he advocated streaming the commission's meetings on the internet.[12] He has advocated bringing internet access to rural areas of Mississippi.[13]

Presley opposed the Kemper Project,[14] a large Mississippi Power "clean coal" electricity plant development in Kemper County, as residents in the Northern District were not served by Mississippi Power or would otherwise economically benefit from the project.[15] The project suffered from delays and cost overruns. In 2017, Presley became chairman of the Public Service Commission, which then forced Mississippi Power to terminate its plans for clean coal electricity generation at the Kemper facility.[16]

Presley, as well as the other two members of the Public Service Commission, opposes using Mississippi as an alternative site to Yucca Mountain for nuclear waste storage.[17]

In 2014, Presley succeeded Betsy Wergin of Minnesota to serve as chair of the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners’ Committee on Consumer Affairs. The committee is charged with analyzing the role that state service commissions play in consumer protection within the energy and telecommunications industries.[18]

In the 2015 elections, Democratic State Representative Cecil Brown was elected to represent the Central District. This gave the Democratic Party a majority on the Commission. Subsequently Presley was appointed to serve as chair of the commission.[19] In March, he presided over the groundbreaking of the largest solar power facility in the state. The project is a joint effort between the PSC, the United States Navy and Mississippi Power at NCBC Gulfport.[20]

### 2023 gubernatorial campaign[edit]

Following months of speculation, Presley announced his candidacy for Governor of Mississippi in the 2023 election on January 12, 2023.[21] Later that month he delivered a response to incumbent Governor Tate Reeves' State of the State address, advocating for the state to embrace Medicaid expansion and accusing Reeves' of allowing rural hospitals to close.[12] On February 16 the Mississippi Democratic Party's executive committee voted to disqualify two minor candidates for the party's gubernatorial nomination for failing to follow ethics disclosures, leaving Presley the only qualified candidate in the Democratic primary.[22]

## Personal life[edit]

Presley is a second cousin of Elvis Presley.[23][2] He lost 216 pounds (98 kg) during 2013 and 2014.[14]

## References[edit]

1. ^ a b c "Presley kicks off campaign for PSC". The Winston County Journal. June 6, 2007. p. 2A.
2. ^ a b c d Perlis, Wicker (January 12, 2023). "What you need to know about Mississippi governor candidate Brandon Presley as he announces". The Clarion-Ledger. Retrieved January 12, 2023.
3. ^ a b Harden, Clay (July 9, 2001). "Sheriff Presley: '... a good man'". The Clarion-Ledger. pp. 1A, 4A.
4. ^ "Lee county wrapu-up".
5. ^ "UPDATE:R.V. Adams wins Nettleton mayor seat".
6. ^ Elkins, Ashley. "Democratic officials back Bush re-election". Daily Journal. Retrieved January 13, 2022.
7. ^ "Presley seeks Public Service post (Paid Political Announcement)". The Charleston Sun-Sentinel. July 5, 2007. p. 10.
8. ^ Mazurak, Jack (August 8, 2007). "Bentz beats 'Two Bits' in state race". Hattiesburg American. p. 5A.
9. ^ Mazurak, Jack (November 7, 2007). "Posey set for win against Barbour". The Clarion-Ledger. p. 12A.
10. ^ "Northern District Commissioner". Mississippi Public Service Commission. Retrieved February 10, 2023.
11. ^ Risher, Wayne (January 18, 2008). "Desoto next stop for PSC's Presley". The Commercial Appeal. pp. B1–B2.
12. ^ a b Browning, William (March 10, 2023). "This Populist Democrat (and Distant Cousin of Elvis) Could Become Mississippi's Next Governor". The New Republic. Retrieved March 13, 2023.
13. ^ "Brandon Presley works to close internet gap". WTVA News. July 9, 2013. Retrieved September 26, 2013.
14. ^ a b Geoff Pender (July 19, 2014). "Pender: Who's running for what in '15". The Clarion-Ledger. Retrieved September 7, 2014.
15. ^ McGarity 2019, p. 263.
16. ^ McGarity 2019, pp. 264–265.
17. ^ Pender, Geoff (August 19, 2014). "Presley to Obama: Mississippi doesn't want nuclear waste". The Clarion-Ledger. Retrieved March 2, 2016.
18. ^ "PSC member Brandon Presley takes national post". The Clarion-Ledger. March 9, 2014. Retrieved March 2, 2016.
19. ^ "Presley, at helm of utility regulator, could get his chance". The Meridian Star. January 5, 2014. Retrieved March 2, 2016.
20. ^ Williams, Darrin (March 2, 2014). "Solar power breaking new ground in South Mississippi". Sun Herald. Retrieved March 2, 2016.
21. ^ Ganucheau, Adam (January 12, 2023). "Democrat Brandon Presley is running for governor". Mississippi Today. Retrieved January 12, 2023.
22. ^ Harrison, Bobby (February 17, 2023). "Democrats disqualify Brandon Presley's primary challengers for governor". Mississippi Today. Nonprofit Mississippi News. Retrieved February 17, 2023.
23. ^ "Elvis Cousin Says He Won't Run for US Senate in Mississippi". U.S. News & World Report. Retrieved January 18, 2018.

## Works cited[edit]

* McGarity, Thomas O. (2019). Pollution, Politics, and Power: The Struggle for Sustainable Electricity. Harvard University Press. ISBN 9780674242807.

## External links[edit]

*   * Profile at Vote Smart

Party political offices

Preceded by

Jim Hood

|  Democratic nominee for Governor of Mississippi
2023 | Most recent

* v
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Elvis Presley

* Albums
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Studio albums|

* Elvis Presley
* Elvis (1956 album)
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* Elvis Is Back!
* His Hand in Mine
* Something for Everybody
* Pot Luck
* How Great Thou Art
* From Elvis in Memphis
* From Memphis to Vegas / From Vegas to Memphis
* That's the Way It Is
* Elvis Country (I'm 10,000 Years Old)
* Love Letters from Elvis
* Elvis Sings The Wonderful World of Christmas
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* He Touched Me
* Elvis (1973 album)
* Raised on Rock / For Ol' Times Sake
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Soundtrack albums|

* Loving You
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* Girls! Girls! Girls!
* It Happened at the World's Fair
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* Elvis Presley: The Searcher

EPs|

* Love Me Tender
* Peace in the Valley
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* Kid Galahad
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* Tickle Me
* Easy Come, Easy Go

Live albums|

* Elvis (1968 album)
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* On Stage
* As Recorded at Madison Square Garden
* Aloha from Hawaii via Satellite
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* Having Fun with Elvis on Stage
* Elvis in Concert
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Budget albums|

* Elvis Sings Flaming Star
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* C'mon Everybody
* I Got Lucky
* Elvis' 40 Greatest
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Compilation albums|

* Elvis' Golden Records
* For LP Fans Only
* A Date with Elvis
* 50,000,000 Elvis Fans Can't Be Wrong
* Elvis' Golden Records Volume 3
* Elvis for Everyone!
* Elvis' Gold Records Volume 4
* Elvis: A Legendary Performer Volume 1
* Elvis: A Legendary Performer Volume 2
* The Sun Sessions
* Welcome to My World
* Mahalo from Elvis
* Elvis: A Legendary Performer Volume 3
* Greatest Hits Volume 1
* Elvis' Gold Records Volume 5
* Amazing Grace: His Greatest Sacred Performances
* Command Performances: The Essential 60s Masters II
* Elvis 56
* Tiger Man
* Memories: The '68 Comeback Special
* Sunrise
* Suspicious Minds: The Memphis 1969 Anthology
* The 50 Greatest Hits
* ELV1S: 30 #1 Hits
* 2nd to None
* Elvis at Sun
* Hitstory
* Elvis Inspirational
* Elvis Rock
* Elvis Christmas
* The Essential Elvis Presley
* Christmas Duets
* If I Can Dream
* Way Down in the Jungle Room
* The Wonder of You
* Where No One Stands Alone

Box sets|

* Worldwide 50 Gold Award Hits Vol. 1
* The King of Rock 'n' Roll: The Complete 50's Masters
* From Nashville to Memphis: The Essential '60s Masters
* Walk a Mile in My Shoes: The Essential '70s Masters
* Peace in the Valley: The Complete Gospel Recordings
* Live in Las Vegas
* Today, Tomorrow, and Forever
* Elvis the King
* The Complete '68 Comeback Special
* The Complete Elvis Presley Masters

Biographical films|

* Elvis (1979 film)
* Elvis (1990 series)
* Elvis Meets Nixon
* Elvis (2005 miniseries)
* Elvis & Nixon
* Elvis (2022 film)
* Priscilla

Documentaries|

* The Pied Piper of Cleveland
* Elvis: That's the Way It Is
* Elvis on Tour
* This Is Elvis
* The New Gladiators
* Elvis Presley: The Searcher

TV specials|

* The Frank Sinatra Timex Show: Welcome Home Elvis
* Elvis ('68 Comeback Special)
* Aloha from Hawaii via Satellite
* Elvis in Concert

Stage shows|

* Cooking with Elvis
* All Shook Up
* Elvis. The Musical
* Elvis: The Concert
* Viva Elvis
* The Elvis Dead

Related people|

* Lisa Marie Presley (daughter)
* Priscilla Presley (ex-wife)
* Brandon Presley (second cousin)
* Sam Phillips
* The Blue Moon Boys
* The Jordanaires
* The Imperials
* The Sweet Inspirations
* TCB Band
* J. D. Sumner
* Stephen H. Sholes
* June Juanico
* Memphis Mafia
* Colonel Tom Parker
* George C. Nichopoulos
* Judy Spreckels
* Linda Thompson
* Ginger Alden
* Larry Geller

Related articles|

* Graceland
* Audubon Street House
* Impersonators
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* Elvis and Me
* Elvis: What Happened?
* Elvis-A-Rama Museum
* Sun recordings
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* Cultural depictions of Elvis Presley
* Songs about Elvis
* Elvis Presley Enterprises
* Elvis Presley Lake
* "Elvis has left the building"
* Elvis Radio
* FBI files on Elvis Presley
* Military service
* Eight Elvises
* Triple Elvis
* Elvis Presley's Pink Cadillac
* Elvis Presley's guitars
* Elvis Presley Forever stamp
* Elvis sightings
* Elvis sandwich
* Fool's Gold Loaf
* Elvis' Greatest Shit
* List of memorials

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