Steven Palazzo has been called to active duty for Annual Training at Camp Shelby for the next two weeks.

While combat troops are exiting the Iraq theatre, the war is escalating in Afghanistan, and thousands of troops are training at Camp Shelby to be deployed.  Steven’s mission at Camp Shelby Joint Force Training Center (CSJFTC) is to support base operations, which oversees the training and deployment of troops who will soon be sent to hostile areas around the world.

Steven is a former member of the United States Marines 3rd Force Recon, and is a combat veteran of Operation Desert Storm. As a member of the Mississippi Army National Guard, he previously served on active duty at Camp Shelby in 2004 and 2005 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Seldom have Congressional candidates been called to active duty so close to Election Day. But according to Steven, it’s just what comes with the territory: “My call to active duty comes during a challenging time, and adds to my already demanding schedule. I am still running a small business, serving the people of Mississippi House District 116, campaigning to unseat Gene Taylor, and most importantly, spending precious time with my family. Life as a citizen-soldier comes with sacrifice, and families of soldiers sacrifice the most while their loved ones serve multiple tours abroad. I am proud to be a citizen-soldier and I am grateful for the opportunity to defend our nation’s freedoms against our foreign and domestic enemies.”

 ..

Last year, President Obama and Nancy Pelosi said that this summer would be the summer of economic growth.  18 months and nearly a trillion dollars in bail out money later, our economy continues to grow at an anemic 1.6 percent.  Our country’s unemployment is a dismal 9.5 percent.  In July, Mississippi’s unemployment rose to 11.5 percent and much of South Mississippi is experiencing 10 percent unemployment.  The housing market still struggles and it’s even worse on the Coast, five years after Katrina, due to a lack of wind and water insurance protection.  Meanwhile, our country awaits the inevitable tax increases mandated by ObamaCare.  Times are tough, but Mississippians are resilient people.

I’ve long said that it is going to take Mississippi values to save our country.  We’ve never been afraid to roll up our sleeves when our country calls on us. Our country needs us now and in 2010, South Mississippi matters.

Today in Jackson, through conservative principles, my legislative colleagues and I voted for an incentive package that will bring a $500 million dollar biofuel company to the state that will create 1000 jobs.  Many of these jobs could locate in South Mississippi due to our vast timber resources that are necessary for the operation of the biofuel facilities.  We also voted to authorize the development of four separate projects to stimulate job creation in D’Iberville.  All of these economic projects come without saddling our state and children with debt.  ..

We want to be sure you have all information you need to vote absentee in the general election. Who can vote absentee? Anyone who is incapacitated, which could be anything from the flu to someone living in a nursing home may vote absentee. Anyone who is outside of the county on election day, for any reason, may vote by absentee. Anyone who has to be at work during the hours the polls are open may vote by absentee. Anyone who is age 65 or older may vote by absentee.

A person wishing to vote absentee in person may go to his or her county Circuit Clerk's office to cast an absentee ballot. Absentee voting is open in each county's Circuit Clerk's office Monday through Friday, and the last two Saturdays prior to Election Day, until noon. Those Saturdays are October 23rd and 30th. You can find your voter registrar here.

You can also request a mail-in absentee ballot by contacting your county's Circuit Clerk. All mail in ballots must be received by 5 PM, November 1, to the Circuit Clerk's PO box.

A person voting in the Circuit Clerk’s office will use the Circuit Clerk or Deputy Clerk as a witness.  A person voting absentee by mail will use a notary public or a postmaster as a witness, except people voting absentee because they are incapacitated. An incapacitated person may use anyone age 18 years or older as a witness.

You can view a 2010 Election Calendar here from the Secretary of State's office. You can also contact the Secretary of State's Election Division at 1-800-829-6786.

Complete your Voter Registration form and make sure it is postmarked by October 3rd.  ..