Today, Governor Phil Bryant named Shadrack White, Director of the Mississippi Justice Institute, the new Mississippi State Auditor. White will replace outgoing Auditor Stacey Pickering, who recently announced his resignation.
“The Governor displayed wisdom with his choice of Shadrack White as State Auditor,” Jon Pritchett, President & CEO of Mississippi Center for Public Policy said. “Though we are certainly disappointed to lose a talented member of our team, we are proud of Shad and happy for he and Rina and their families. Shad’s service as the Director of the Mississippi Justice Institute was exemplary and his work on government accountability and transparency has set a solid foundation for his successor. It’s an honor for one to have the opportunity to serve his home state and I’m confident Shad will serve all of the Mississippi taxpayers well. We should all sleep better with a constitutional conservative in the state auditor’s office.”
White will be sworn in on July 16, 2018.
“While I’m excited for my next step, I’m saddened to leave the talented team at the Mississippi Center for Public Policy and the Mississippi Justice Institute,” White said. “In its short history, the Mississippi Justice Institute has built a reputation for taking tough stands against government overreach and violations of our transparency laws. Its next director will step into a job full of opportunity to make a real difference for Mississippians. I don’t think it’s an accident that MJI’s first director is now a U.S. Attorney, and its second will be State Auditor. Mississippians and Mississippi leaders recognize the powerful force that this Institute and MCPP have become, and that power is being used to make Mississippi freer and more prosperous for the people of this state.”
Prior to White, Mike Hurst was the first Director of MJI. He served in that role until he was named U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Mississippi last year.