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Mike Chaney

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This article is about the Mississippi Insurance Commissioner. For the Australian businessman, see Michael Chaney.

Mike Chaney
11th Insurance Commissioner of Mississippi
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 10, 2008
GovernorHaley Barbour
Phil Bryant
Tate Reeves
Preceded byGeorge Dale
Member of the Mississippi State Senate
from the 23rd district
In office
January 4, 2000 – January 8, 2008
Preceded byGrey Ferris
Succeeded byBriggs Hopson
Member of the Mississippi House of Representatives from the 54th district
In office
January 1993 – January 2000
Preceded byEd Buelow
Succeeded byChester Masterson
Personal details
Born
Michael Jackson Chaney

(1944-01-06) January 6, 1944 (age 80)
Tupelo, Mississippi, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
SpouseMary Thurmond
EducationMississippi State University (BA)
Military service
AllegianceUnited States of America
Branch/service United States Army
Battles/warsVietnam War

Michael Jackson Chaney (born January 6, 1944) is the Commissioner of Insurance for the State of Mississippi since 2008. He served in the Mississippi House of Representatives from 1993 to 1999 and in the Mississippi State Senate from 2000 to 2008. Prior to his time in politics, he pursued business ventures in oil distribution, wood preservation, real estate, and other industries.

Early life and education

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Michael Chaney was born in Tupelo, Mississippi on January 6, 1944.[1] He graduated from Mississippi State University in 1966 with a Bachelor of Science in banking and finance.[2] A businessman, Chaney founded an oil distribution business for convenience stores in Vicksburg in the 1970s, followed by ventures into the wood preservation business in Kemper County and real estate.[3][4] He also pursued business interests in utility companies, farming, and communications companies.[5]

He served in the United States Army during the Vietnam War as a sergeant in the Mississippi Reserve from 1968 to 1969.[2]

Political career

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State legislature

Mike Chaney, 5th from right, in a photo with Fred Thompson and other elected officials from Mississippi in 2007.

A Republican, Chaney served in the Mississippi House of Representatives for the 54th district from 1993 to 1999.[6][7] He ran to replace Ed Buelow, who had been appointed to the Mississippi Tax Commission. At the time of his campaign, he was the chairman of the Warren County Republican Executive Committee and had served in economic leadership roles in the local area.[4]

In 1999, he ran for election to the Mississippi State Senate for the 23rd district, facing off against Democrat Ken Harper, a former State Senator. During the campaign, he emphasized health care, taxation, education, law enforcement, and economic development issues.[5] He won the election and served the district from 2000 to 2008.[6][1] While in the senate, he served as chairman of the Education Committee and helped co-write the Mississippi Adequate Education Program.[1] He took a role in reforming building code legislation and was appointed by Amy Tuck to the Mississippi State Flag Commission.[1]

Insurance commissioner

In 2007, he ran for election to become the Mississippi Insurance Commissioner, where he faced off against primary candidate Ronnie English, and later Democratic Gary Anderson in the general election.[8] During the election, he favored increasing competition among insurance companies and maintaining the elected status of the commissioner position.[8] He was accused by Anderson for "cozying up to insurance companies," though Chaney rebuffed said claims.[9] Chaney won the election 56.5% to 43.5%, becoming the first new commissioner since George Dale took office in 1976. Voter discontent towards insurance companies after Hurricane Katrina was considered to play a major role in his victory. Chaney also outraised Anderson significantly.[10][6] He was sworn-in as insurance commissioner on January 10, 2008.[11]

Chaney was re-elected in 2011 against Louis Fondren 62% to 34.7%. He ran unopposed in the general election in 2015. He was re-elected in 2019 against Robert Amos 61.3% to 38.7%. He was re-elected in 2023 against Bruce Burton 59.3% to 40.7%.[6]

Personal life

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He is married to Mary Thurmond Chaney and has three children and eight grandchildren. He lives in Vicksburg, Mississippi.[3] He is of Episcopal faith.[1]

Electoral history

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Mississippi State Senate 23rd District Election, 2003
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Mike Chaney (inc.) 9,745 56.92
Democratic Marcie Tanner Southerland 7,377 43.08
Mississippi Insurance Commissioner Republican Primary Election, 2007
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Mike Chaney 136,887 78.90
Republican Ronnie English 36,586 21.10
Mississippi Insurance Commissioner Election, 2007
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Mike Chaney 414,718 56.50
Democratic Gary Anderson 319,287 43.50
Mississippi Insurance Commissioner Election, 2011
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Mike Chaney (inc.) 538,008 61.95
Democratic Louis Fondren 301,185 34.68
Reform Barbara Dale Washer 29,200 3.36
Mississippi Insurance Commissioner Republican Primary Election, 2015
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Mike Chaney (inc.) 194,792 72.56
Republican John Mosley 73,657 27.44
Mississippi Insurance Commissioner Election, 2015
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Mike Chaney (inc.) 585,257 100.00
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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e Senate Resolution No. 32, A RESOLUTION TO COMMEND SENATOR MIKE CHANEY FOR HIS DISTINGUISHED SERVICE IN THE MISSISSIPPI SENATE, 2007 Session.
  2. ^ a b "Who is Mike Chaney and Why Should He Be Our Representative in District 54?". The Vicksburg Post. July 23, 1992. p. 3.
  3. ^ a b "Mississippi Insurance Commissioner Mike Chaney". Mississippi Department of Insurance. Retrieved April 11, 2024.
  4. ^ a b Smith, Rhonda (May 15, 1992). "Mike Chaney Enters House Race". The Vicksburg Post. pp. 1, 9.
  5. ^ a b "Mike Chaney seeking senate office". The Vicksburg Post. September 5, 1999. p. 15.
  6. ^ a b c d "Mike Chaney". Ballotpedia. Retrieved April 11, 2024.
  7. ^ House Resolution 47, A RESOLUTION COMMENDING REPRESENTATIVE MIKE CHANEY FOR HIS DEDICATED SERVICE AS A MEMBER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, 1999 Session.
  8. ^ a b Barrett, Jr., Danny (August 2, 2007). "Sen. Mike Chaney among insurance chief hopefuls". The Vicksburg Post. p. 23.
  9. ^ Rupp, Leah (November 4, 2007). "Oxford lawyer funds new ad against Chaney". The Clarion-Ledger. p. 13.
  10. ^ Joyner, Chris (November 7, 2007). "Chaney takes victory over Anderson". The Clarion-Ledger. p. 31.
  11. ^ Byrd, Shelia (January 11, 2008). "7 statewide officials take oath of office". Hattiesburg American. pp. 3A, 9A.
Party political offices
Preceded by
Aaron "Lucky" DuPuy, III
 Republican nominee for Insurance Commissioner of Mississippi
2007, 2011, 2015, 2019, 2023 		Most recent
Political offices
Preceded by
George Dale
 Insurance Commissioner of Mississippi
2008–present 		Incumbent
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