Johnny DuPree
Encyclopedia
Johnny DuPree is an American politician who serves as mayor of Hattiesburg, Mississippi
, and was the 2011 Democratic Party nominee
for Governor of Mississippi, but was defeated by Republican nominee Phil Bryant. He was the first African American
major party nominee for governor in Mississippi since the Reconstruction era.
, with his mother, brother, and sister.
Despite damage to the city resulting from Hurricane Katrina
and a global recession, the health of Hattiesburg’s small businesses remained steady during Dupree’s tenure as mayor. Ingram’s predictions for Hattiesburg under the Dupree administration were largely accurate. In 2010, employment statistics showed Hattiesburg registering only 8.6 percent at a time when the state unemployment rate was 11.2 and the national rate was 11.1. Also during Dupree’s tenure as mayor, annual crime statistics released by the Hattiesburg Police Department in showed a 10 percent overall decrease in reported crime since 2008.
hit the Gulf Coast in 2005, Johnny Dupree was invited to address the congregation of Mt Carmel Baptist Church, where he warned the congregation about the “devastation churning its way across the Gulf of Mexico.” In the aftermath of the storm, the city lost power and water for several days. Due to the lack of a response from FEMA, the city under Dupree resorted to leasing essential equipment and goods on its own, items such as generators, which would normally be available through federal and state emergency services. Because of Hattiesburg’s position as a regional hub and as the first major metropolitan area outside of New Orleans, the city was flooded with thousands of evacuees. In the immediate aftermath of the storm, Dupree’s government worked to meet the needs of the displaced evacuees without assistance from federal agencies.
In the weeks following Katrina, Mayor Dupree was a vocal critic of FEMA’s inept performance and perceived indifference. Although the federal response to the Katrina disaster resulted in many high-profile accusations of racism, Mayor Dupree was among those who emphasized the role of income disparity. He also stated that “those charged with providing to those in need simply failed when called upon.”
. Monica Dupree is an educator in the Jackson Public School District.
Hattiesburg, Mississippi
Hattiesburg is a city in Forrest County, Mississippi, United States. The population was 44,779 at the 2000 census . It is the county seat of Forrest County...
, and was the 2011 Democratic Party nominee
Mississippi gubernatorial election, 2011
The 2011 Mississippi gubernatorial election, occurred on November 8 of that year. Incumbent Governor Haley Barbour was ineligible to run for re-election due to term limits....
for Governor of Mississippi, but was defeated by Republican nominee Phil Bryant. He was the first African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
major party nominee for governor in Mississippi since the Reconstruction era.
Early Life
Johnny Dupree was born in Fort Benning, Georgia. As a small boy, he moved to Hattiesburg, MississippiHattiesburg, Mississippi
Hattiesburg is a city in Forrest County, Mississippi, United States. The population was 44,779 at the 2000 census . It is the county seat of Forrest County...
, with his mother, brother, and sister.
Career
Dupree entered public service in 1987 when he was appointed to the Hattiesburg Public School Board. A year later, he and his wife established a small business in real estate. In 1991, he was elected to the Forrest County Board of Supervisors where he served for 10 years before running for mayor of Hattiesburg in 2001.Tenure as mayor
In 2001, Johnny Dupree became the first African-American mayor of Hattiesburg after winning 53% of the vote. He would be reelected twice in next decade. During his first campaign for mayor, Dupree ran on a platform of shoring up education and protecting small business. At the time, Robert Ingram, the executive director of economic development at the University of Southern Mississippi, predicted that Dupree would support locally owned small business while also being active in industrial recruitment.Despite damage to the city resulting from Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season was a powerful Atlantic hurricane. It is the costliest natural disaster, as well as one of the five deadliest hurricanes, in the history of the United States. Among recorded Atlantic hurricanes, it was the sixth strongest overall...
and a global recession, the health of Hattiesburg’s small businesses remained steady during Dupree’s tenure as mayor. Ingram’s predictions for Hattiesburg under the Dupree administration were largely accurate. In 2010, employment statistics showed Hattiesburg registering only 8.6 percent at a time when the state unemployment rate was 11.2 and the national rate was 11.1. Also during Dupree’s tenure as mayor, annual crime statistics released by the Hattiesburg Police Department in showed a 10 percent overall decrease in reported crime since 2008.
Response to Katrina
On the Sunday before Hurricane KatrinaHurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season was a powerful Atlantic hurricane. It is the costliest natural disaster, as well as one of the five deadliest hurricanes, in the history of the United States. Among recorded Atlantic hurricanes, it was the sixth strongest overall...
hit the Gulf Coast in 2005, Johnny Dupree was invited to address the congregation of Mt Carmel Baptist Church, where he warned the congregation about the “devastation churning its way across the Gulf of Mexico.” In the aftermath of the storm, the city lost power and water for several days. Due to the lack of a response from FEMA, the city under Dupree resorted to leasing essential equipment and goods on its own, items such as generators, which would normally be available through federal and state emergency services. Because of Hattiesburg’s position as a regional hub and as the first major metropolitan area outside of New Orleans, the city was flooded with thousands of evacuees. In the immediate aftermath of the storm, Dupree’s government worked to meet the needs of the displaced evacuees without assistance from federal agencies.
In the weeks following Katrina, Mayor Dupree was a vocal critic of FEMA’s inept performance and perceived indifference. Although the federal response to the Katrina disaster resulted in many high-profile accusations of racism, Mayor Dupree was among those who emphasized the role of income disparity. He also stated that “those charged with providing to those in need simply failed when called upon.”
Democratic primary election
On August 23, 2011, Dupree defeated Bill Luckett in the Mississippi Democratic Primary race despite a significant fundraising disadvantage. Both Dupree and Luckett's campaigns were noted for their lack of negative attacks.2011 campaign for governor
On August 23, 2011 DuPree won the Democratic nomination for Governor of Mississippi. He faced Republican nominee Phil Bryant on November 8, 2011, who defeated him in the general election.Family
Johnny Dupree has been married to Johniece Dupree since 1972. They have one grandson and two daughters. April Dupree Taylor works at the Department of Communication at the University of South AlabamaUniversity of South Alabama
The University of South Alabama is a public, doctoral-level university in Mobile, Alabama, USA. It was created by the Alabama Legislature in 1963, and replaced existing extension programs operated in Mobile by the University of Alabama. No other areas of the state were willing to support such a...
. Monica Dupree is an educator in the Jackson Public School District.
External links
- Campaign website
- Mayor DuPree at the City of Hattiesburg website
- Collected news at Hattiesburg AmericanHattiesburg AmericanThe Hattiesburg American is a U.S. newspaper based in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, that serves readers in Forrest, Lamar, and surrounding counties in south-central Mississippi. The newspaper is owned by Gannett Company, Inc.-History:...
- Collected news at Mississippi Business JournalMississippi Business JournalThe Mississippi Business Journal is a statewide weekly business newspaper, located in Jackson, Mississippi.Each issue contains news coverage relating to the Mississippi business world along with regular opinion and freelance columns...