De'Keither Stamps (born November 21, 1976) is an American politician serving as a member of the Mississippi Public Service Commission. He previously served in the Mississippi House of Representatives from the 66th district as a Democrat from 2020 to 2024. He ran for the 2023 election to the Mississippi Public Service Commission for the Central District, defeating Republican incumbent Brent Bailey in a rematch of their 2019 race. He assumed office in 2024.[1]
De'Keither Stamps | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Stamps in 2016 | |
| Member of the Mississippi Public Service Commission from the Central district | |
| Assumed office January 4, 2024 | |
| Preceded by | Brent Bailey |
| Member of the Mississippi House of Representatives from the 66th district | |
| In office October 16, 2020 – January 2, 2024 | |
| Preceded by | Jarvis Dortch |
| Succeeded by | Fabian Nelson |
| Personal details | |
| Born | November 21, 1976 Learned, Mississippi, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Children | 3 |
| Military service | |
| Branch/service |  United States Marine Corps (1995–2002) United States Army (2002–2003) |
| Battles/wars | Iraq War |
Early life and education
editStamps was born on November 21, 1976, in Learned, Mississippi, and was raised in nearby Jackson, Mississippi.[2] He attended Forest Hill High School before transferring and graduating from Crystal Springs High School in 1995.[3] He also attended Marine Corps University.[2]
Career
editStamps joined the United States Marine Corps and was assigned to President Bill Clinton's security team, serving four years in that role. Stamps was later a military security officer assigned to American embassies in Dar es Salaam, Nairobi, Geneva, and London. After leaving the Marine Corps in 2002, he joined the United States Army to fight in the Iraq War after the Marines wanted to put him on embassy security. After retiring again, he returned to Mississippi.
A Democrat, Stamps served on the Jackson City Council for Ward 4 from 2013 to 2020.[3] As a council member, he objected to the Jackson's mayor open carry gun ban.[4] With the resignation of Representative Jarvis Dortch, Stamps filed to fill the vacancy for the Mississippi House of Representatives.[5] He greatly outraised his contender Bob Lee and won the October 16, 2020 special election.[6][7] He was appointed to the Constitution, Investigate State Offices, Military Affairs, Municipalities, and Public Utilities committees.[2] He co-sponsored a bill protecting Mississippi students’ right to free speech.[8] He voiced opposition to an election bill that would revise voter rolls.[9]
He ran for election for the Mississippi Public Service Commission for the central district in 2019, narrowly losing to Brent Bailey 50.3% to 49.7%.[10][11] He ran again in 2023 in what was considered a competitive race.[12] In an interview for the race, he emphasized affordability, reliability, and return on investment of utilities in ratemaking. He supported a consumer advocate position at the commission.[13] He narrowly flipped the seat 51.1% to 48.9%, making him the only Democrat on the commission.[10][11]
References
edit- ^ Harrison, Heather (November 16, 2023). "Democrat De'Keither Stamps Flips Seat on Mississippi Public Service Commission". Mississippi Free Press. Retrieved January 5, 2024.
- ^ a b c "De'Keither Stamps". Mississippi State Legislature. Retrieved March 28, 2022.
- ^ a b Fuller, Jacob. "From Veteran to Councilman". Jackson Free Press. Retrieved May 5, 2021.
- ^ Ulmer, Sarah (April 29, 2020). "Jackson councilman shows opposition to mayor's open carry ban by packing heat at presser". Magnolia Tribune. Retrieved April 1, 2024.
- ^ Ulmer, Sarah (August 31, 2020). "YP Special Elections Series: De'Keither Stamps for MS House District 66". Magnolia Tribune. Retrieved April 1, 2024.
- ^ "De'Keither Stamps wins Special Runoff election for Miss. House District 66". WLBT. October 14, 2020. Retrieved March 26, 2024.
- ^ Ulmer, Sarah (October 14, 2020). "SOS office reports campaign finance filings for special election run-off". Magnolia Tribune. Retrieved April 1, 2024.
- ^ Summerhays, Anne (April 6, 2022). "Law protecting Mississippi students' right to free speech signed by Governor Reeves". Magnolia Tribune. Retrieved April 1, 2024.
- ^ Summerhays, Anne (March 28, 2023). "Election integrity bill to clean voter rolls heads to Mississippi Governor over Democrat opposition". Magnolia Tribune. Retrieved April 1, 2024.
- ^ a b Harrison, Heather (November 16, 2023). "Democrat De'Keither Stamps Flips Seat on Mississippi Public Service Commission". Mississippi Free Press. Retrieved March 26, 2024.
- ^ a b "De'Keither Stamps". Ballotpedia. Retrieved April 1, 2024.
- ^ Crawford, Bill (October 22, 2023). "Will Bailey's experience help him beat Stamps again?". Magnolia Tribune. Retrieved April 1, 2024.
- ^ Corder, Frank (July 5, 2023). "Q & A with Central PSC candidates Bailey, Stamps". Magnolia Tribune. Retrieved April 1, 2024.