Erik R. Fleming

Infobox State Representative
honorific-prefix =
name = Erik Fleming
honorific-suffix =


state2 = Mississippi
state_house2 = Mississippi
district2 = 72nd
term_start2 = 1999
term_end2 = 2008
preceded2=
succeeded2=
party = Democratic
date of birth=birth date and age|1965|2|2
place of birth = Chicago, Illinois
date of death=
place of death=
spouse =
residence = Clinton, Mississippi
alma_mater = Jackson State University
occupation =
profession =
religion = Lutheran
website = [http://erikfleming.org/ erikfleming.org]

Erik Robert Fleming (born February 2, 1965) was a member of the Mississippi House of Representatives representing the 72nd District (which includes parts of Hinds and Madison counties) from 1999 to 2008. He is currently the Democratic nominee for one of the state's two U.S. Senate seats. He will face incumbent Republican Thad Cochran in the November 4 2008 general election.

Early and personal life

Fleming was born in Chicago, Illinois to Joan and Robert Fleming, and attended Lindblom Technical High School. He majored in political science at Jackson State University, became a brother of Alpha Phi Omega while there, and graduated in 1987. Fleming worked with Mississippi Governor Ray Mabus in his 1987 campaign and Mike Parker in his campaign for the U.S. Congress in 1988.

Fleming is the father of one son, Sean Christopher. He is also the stepfather of two boys, Kenneth and James Brown. Fleming attends Epiphany (formerly St. Philip) Lutheran Church and is a member of several organizations and boards, including the NAACP, the SCLC, the Mississippi Faith-Based Coalition for Community Renewal, the Mississippi Families for Kids, and the Jackson State University National Alumni Association.Fact|date=May 2008

Political career

Fleming was first elected to the Mississippi House of Representatives in a January 1999 special election to finish the unexpired term of Tomie Green. He represented the 72nd District (which includes parts of Hinds and Madison counties) from 1999 to 2008. He was defeated in the 2007 primary by Kimberly Campbell, succeeded him in January 2008.

Fleming ran against incumbent U.S. Senator Trent Lott in the November 2006 election. There were four candidates In the June 6, 2006 Democratic primary; top two finishers were Fleming, who received 44 percent, and Hickory Flat business consultant Bill Bowlin, who received 22 percent. In the June 27 runoff between Fleming and Bowlin, Fleming received 65 percent.Fact|date=May 2008 Fleming lost to Lott in the general election.cite news
title=Web sites enable campaign TV ads on the cheap
first=Joe
last=Garofoli
date=May 11, 2008
url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/05/10/MNUC10K70C.DTL
work=San Francisco Chronicle
accessdate=2007-05-17]

Fleming served as President of the Young Democrats of Mississippi (1991-92), Chair of the Hinds County Democratic Executive Committee (1996-99), National Committeeman of The Young Democrats of America (1993-95), and as campaign manager for the Henry J. Kirksey for Mayor Campaign (1993).

At one time Fleming expressed support for political activist Lyndon LaRouche, but has denounced him several times since. [ [http://kydem.blogspot.com/2005/04/friday-roundup.html Erik Fleming's letter] April 15, 2005] [ [http://www.prospect.org/csnc/blogs/ezraklein_archive?month=11&year=2006&base_name=visit_my_blog_thread Erik Fleming's reply] November 16, 2006]

Currently, Fleming is an abstinence educator with the Mississippi Community Development Corporation, a non-profit agency located in his legislative district. Most recently, Fleming was also chief operating officer for New Horizon Ministries, Inc., a non-profit agency in Jackson.

Fleming won the Mississippi primary for the Democratic Party nomination to face Senator Thad Cochran in Mississippi's November 2008 Senate election.

ee also

*United States Senate elections in Mississippi, 2008

References

External links

* [http://erikfleming.org/ Erik Fleming for U.S. Senate] "official campaign website"
* [http://www.opensecrets.org/races/summary.php?id=MSS1&cycle=2008 Campaign contributions] from OpenSecrets.org