Summary
Current Position: US Representative of MS 4th District since 2011
Affiliation: Republican
District: southeastern region of the state. It includes all of Mississippi’s Gulf Coast, stretching ninety miles between the Alabama border to the east and the Louisiana border to the west, and extends north into the Pine Belt region. It includes three of Mississippi’s four most heavily populated cities: Gulfport, Biloxi, and Hattiesburg.
Upcoming Election:
Ezell was elected sheriff of Jackson County, Mississippi, in a 2014 special election after Mike Byrd resigned. Ezell served in the Pascagoula Police Department, first as a patrolman in 1980, then as captain of the detective division in 1992, and then as chief of police for Ocean Springs, Mississippi, from 1998 to 2000.
OnAir Post: Mike Ezell MS-04
News
About
Congressman Mike Ezell is a lifelong conservative Republican with more than forty years of law enforcement experience and a commitment to tackling the biggest challenges facing our nation. In his first term in Congress, Congressman Ezell is fighting to put America First by supporting our military and law enforcement, securing our border, defending our Constitutional rights, and cutting taxes and regulations.
Before being elected to represent the people of South Mississippi in Washington, Congressman Ezell was a career law enforcement officer who most recently served as Sheriff of Jackson County.
The son of a city policeman and a church secretary, Congressman Ezell is a lifelong resident of the Mississippi Gulf Coast and a graduate of Pascagoula High School. He attended night school at the University of Southern Mississippi to obtain a degree in Criminal Justice while serving full-time with the Pascagoula Police Department. He also graduated from the Mississippi Law Enforcement Training Academy and the FBI National Academy.
A former competition shooter, Congressman Ezell now spends his free time hunting and fishing across South Mississippi. He and his wife, Suzette, are active members of First Baptist Church of Pascagoula. They have one daughter, Amy Ezell Dennis (Coby) and one granddaughter, Sydney.
Personal
Full Name: Walter ‘Mike’ Michael Ezell
Family: Married: Suzette; 1 Child
Home City: Gulfport, MS
Religion: Baptist-Christian
Source: Vote Smart
Education
BA, Criminal justice, The University of Southern Mississippi, 1997
Political Experience
Representative, Mississippi State House of Representatives, District 4, 2023-present
Candidate, Mississippi State House of Representatives, District 4, 2022
Professional Experience
Sheriff, Jackson County Sheriff’s Department, 2014-2023
Captain, Campus Police Singing River Hospital, 2008-2014
Investigator, 19th Judicial District Attorney’s Office, 2007-2008
Chief of Law Enforcement, Pascagoula School District, 2003-2007
Offices
Gulfport District Office
10441 Corporate Drive, Suite 2
Gulfport, MS 39503
Phone: (228) 864-7670
Hattiesburg District Office
641 Main Street, Suite 142
Hattiesburg, MS 39401
Phone: (601) 582-3246
Pascagoula District Office
3207 Magnolia Street, Suite 101
Pascagoula, MS 39567
Phone: (228) 202-5890
Laurel District Office
515 N. 5th Avenue, Suite A
Laurel, MS 39440
Phone: (601) 425-7247
Washington, DC Office
443 Cannon HOB
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: (202) 225-5772
Contact
Email: Government
Web Links
Politics
Source: none
Committees
House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
Vice Chair of Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation
Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management
Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment
House Committee on Homeland Security
Vice Chair of Subcommittee on Oversight, Investigations, and Accountability
Subcommittee on Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Protection
Caucuses
Republican Study Committee
Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus
New Legislation
Issues
Source: Government page
More Information
Services
Source: Government page
District
Source: Wikipedia
Mississippi’s 4th congressional district covers the southeastern region of the state. It includes all of Mississippi’s Gulf Coast, stretching ninety miles between the Alabama border to the east and the Louisiana border to the west, and extends north into the Pine Belt region. It includes three of Mississippi’s four most heavily populated cities: Gulfport, Biloxi, and Hattiesburg. Other major cities within the district include Bay St. Louis, Laurel, and Pascagoula.[4] The district is currently represented by Republican Mike Ezell. With a Cook Partisan Voting Index rating of R+22, it is the most Republican district in Mississippi.[3]
From statehood to the election of 1846, Mississippi elected representatives at-large statewide on a general ticket. From 1973 to 2003, the district included most of Jackson, all of Natchez and the southwestern part of the state. In 2003, after Mississippi lost a seat in redistricting, the old 4th District was eliminated. Most of Jackson, as well as the bulk of the district’s black constituents, were drawn into the 2nd District, while eastern Jackson and most of Jackson’s suburbs were drawn into the 3rd District. As a result, most of the old 5th District was redefined as the new 4th District.[5]
The perimeter of the current Fourth District extends across the ninety-mile coastal southern edge of Mississippi from the Louisiana border to the Alabama border, following the Alabama state line north along the eastern border of the state to a point due east of Quitman in Clarke County where it is bounded by the 3rd District and then moves in an irregular fashion south of Quitman until it reaches the county line with Wayne County, and then follows the northern and western borders to wholly contain Jones, Forrest, Lamar, and Marion counties until it reaches the Louisiana state line, ultimately bounded by the Pearl River winding to its outlet in Lake Borgne.
Interstate 59 is an important north–south route that traverses the district, while coastal Interstate 10 serves as the major east–west route from New Orleans to Mobile. US Highway 49 is a vital hurricane evacuation route and is four-laned from Gulfport to Jackson. US Highway 84 enters the state near Waynesboro and is four-laned statewide, passing through Laurel, Brookhaven and Natchez.
Wikipedia
Walter Michael Ezell (/ˈiˌzɛl/ EE–ZELL; born April 6, 1959)[1] is an American former law enforcement officer and politician serving as the U.S. representative for Mississippi’s 4th congressional district since 2023. He is a member of the Republican Party.
Early life and education
Ezell was born in Pascagoula, Mississippi, to S.H. “Buck”, a police officer, and Betty Ezell.[2][3]
He attended the University of Southern Mississippi, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in criminal justice. [citation needed] He also graduated from the Mississippi Law Enforcement Officers Training Academy in 1981 and FBI National Academy in 1990.[2]
Career
Law enforcement officer
Following a stint as police chief in Ocean Springs, Ezell returned to Pascagoula, where he received an assignment to the FBI Safe Streets Task Force. He later served as chief of law enforcement for the Pascagoula School District and the Singing River Health System.[4]
Ezell was elected sheriff of Jackson County, Mississippi, in a 2014 special election after Mike Byrd resigned.[2][5]
U.S. House of Representatives
Elections
2022
In 2021, Ezell announced that he would challenge Republican incumbent Steven Palazzo in Mississippi’s 4th congressional district in the 2022 elections.[6] In the seven-way June 7 primary election, Palazzo received the most votes, 31.5%, and Ezell finished second with 25%.[7] Because no candidate received 50% of the vote, Palazzo and Ezell faced each other in a runoff election. All the other candidates in the race endorsed Ezell after they were eliminated.[8]
Ezell won the June 28 primary runoff election[9] and defeated Democratic nominee Johnny DuPree in the November general election.[10]
Committee assignments
For the 118th Congress:[11]
Controversies
On May 7, 2024, the Associated Press reported allegations that Congressman Mike Ezell assaulted an activist from CodePink as she asked about his support for a peace proposal for Gaza by slapping a cellular telephone from her hand as she was recording a confrontation with him.[12]
Political positions
Ezell voted to provide Israel with support following 2023 Hamas attack on Israel.[13][14]
Personal life
Ezell is married to Suzette Ezell. They have one daughter and one granddaughter.[15]
References
- ^ “Mississippi New Members 2023”. November 17, 2022. Retrieved November 18, 2022.
- ^ a b c “Biography – Sheriff, “Mike” Ezell”. co.jackson.ms.us. Jackson County, Mississippi. Retrieved December 6, 2022.
- ^ @RepEzell (November 13, 2023). “Ezell to miss votes following mother’s passing” (Tweet). Retrieved November 13, 2023 – via Twitter.
- ^ “Mike Ezell sworn in as Jackson County’s new sheriff”. gulflive.com. December 1, 2014. Retrieved October 13, 2022.
- ^ Grace, Caray (December 2, 2014). “Jackson County swears in new sheriff”. Wlox.com. Retrieved October 13, 2022.
- ^ “Congress: South Mississippi sheriff to challenge U.S. Rep. Steven Palazzo in 2022”. Clarionledger.com. Retrieved November 9, 2022.
- ^ “Palazzo, Ezell head to runoff for 4th Congressional District Republican nomination”. WLOX. June 8, 2022. Retrieved November 1, 2022.
- ^ Pender, Geoff (June 9, 2022). “Every Republican challenger of Rep. Steven Palazzo endorses his runoff opponent Mike Ezell”. Mississippi Today. Retrieved November 1, 2022.
- ^ Weissert, Will (June 28, 2022). “Rep. Michael Guest, Sheriff Mike Ezell win Mississippi runoffs”. PBS NewsHour. Retrieved December 6, 2022.
- ^ Perez, Mary (November 8, 2022). “Here’s how big Mike Ezell won South Mississippi’s Congressional race Tuesday night”. Sun Herald. Retrieved December 6, 2022.
- ^ “Mike Ezell”. Clerk of the United States House of Representatives. Retrieved August 17, 2023.
- ^ “Activist says US congressman knocked cellphone from her hand as she asked about Israel-Hamas war”. Associated Press News. May 7, 2024. Retrieved May 10, 2024.
- ^ Demirjian, Karoun (October 25, 2023). “House Declares Solidarity With Israel in First Legislation Under New Speaker”. The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
- ^ “Roll Call 528 Roll Call 528, Bill Number: H. Res. 771, 118th Congress, 1st Session”. Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives. October 25, 2023. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
- ^ “Meet Mike”. Mike Ezell for Congress. Retrieved December 6, 2022.
- ^ “Religious affiliation of members of 118th Congress” (PDF). Pew Research Center. Retrieved April 8, 2023.
External links
- Congressman Mike Ezell official U.S. House website
- Mike Ezell for Congress campaign website
- Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
- Financial information (federal office) at the Federal Election Commission
- Legislation sponsored at the Library of Congress
- Profile at Vote Smart
- Appearances on C-SPAN
