Mississippi Governor Cited for Handling of Hurricane Katrina

Governor Haley Barbour has been named the nation’s most outstanding governor and a 2006 Public Official of the Year in recognition of his resourcefulness and cool-headed leadership in the face of Hurricane Katrina.

The award was given by Governing magazine, an independent, Washington, D.C.-based magazine devoted to coverage of state and local government.

Barbour is profiled in the November issue of Governing for “being straight with the facts about the utter devastation in the area, but also for his own demeanor in public appearances that suggested the state would summon the will to rebuild.” The profile, titled “Steady in a Storm,” credits Barbour for putting his state on a road to recovery, as evidenced by the prompt reopening of public schools and the provision of temporary housing for more than 100,000 residents.

The article also highlights Barbour’s successful promotion of a tort reform measure.

This year’s group of nine recipients of Public Official of the Year 2006 awards represents the thirteenth to be honored in Governing’s annual awards program, which was launched in 1994.

Source: www.governorbarbour.com