Credell Calhoun

Credell Calhoun
Member of the Mississippi House of Representatives
from the 68th district
In office
January 5, 2004 – January 7, 2020
Preceded byTom Wallace
Succeeded byZakiya Summers
In office
1980–1992
Preceded byDistrict Reapportioned
Succeeded byEarle S. Banks
Personal details
Born (1943-05-20) May 20, 1943
Natchitoches, Louisiana, U.S.
PartyDemocratic
Alma mater

Credell Calhoun (born May 20, 1943) is an American businessman and Democratic Party politician who served in the Mississippi House of Representatives, representing the 68th District from 1980 to 1992 and 2004 to 2020. Calhoun decided not to run for reelection in 2019 to run for a position on the Hinds County Board of Supervisors. He lost re-election to the board in a 2023 primary.

Early life

The son of a sharecropper,[1] Calhoun was born in Natchitoches, Louisiana on May 20, 1943.[2] He graduated from Fremont High School in Los Angeles.[3] He graduated with a bachelor of science and master's degree from Prairie View A&M and continued his education at Jackson State University.[2][4] He studied business administration, economics, and counseling.[5]

After graduating, he worked in the Mayor Dale Dank's office in Jackson as an administrative assistant,[1] and he worked in the governor's office as an auditor. He has worked as a counselor for Jackson State University.[4][3]

Political career

A Democrat, Calhoun was elected to the Mississippi House of Representatives, serving non-contiguous terms from 1980 to 1992 and 2004 to 2020 for the 68th district.[2] He retired from the Mississippi State House to run for election to the Hinds County Board of Supervisors.[4][6] He was elected and served until 2024, losing a primary election in 2023 to Deborah Butler Dixon.[6][7]

Elections

Calhoun's initial campaign in 1979 followed redistricting that increased the number of Blacks in the 68th district;[1] he focused his campaign's priorities on services for the elderly and increasing employment opportunities.[5]

In 1992, he expressed interest in running for mayor of Jackson, Mississippi, aiming to become the first Black mayor.[8] At the same time, he ran for re-election to his legislative seat, which was now the 67th district. He narrowly lost in the primary election in August against Earle S. Banks, with observers placing the reason on the ill-timed mayoral race and the negative campaigning Calhoun engaged in.[9] He proceeded to lose in a convention vote to former state senator Henry Kirksey in late August to pick a Black consensus candidate for the mayoral post.[10]

In 1993, he ran for office to the Jackson City Council, being elected to Ward 4;[11] he was elected president of the council in 1995.[12][13] He was ousted in his 1997 campaign by Bo Brown, winning only around 26% of the vote.[14]

In 1999, he ran for a seat on the Mississippi Transportation Commission in the central district upon the nomination and confirmation of Commissioner Wayne Burkes to the U.S. Surface Transportation Board.[15] He lost in the Democratic primary to Willie Richardson, a former Baltimore Colts wide receiver.[16][17]

In 2001, he ran for election to once again represent Ward 4 on the Jackson City Council against Councilman Bo Brown; he narrowly lost in the run-off.[18]

In 2003, he ran for election to his old seat in the Mississippi House of Representatives against Rep. Tom Wallace. He defeated Wallace in the primary and Republican David Harrington in the general.[19][20]

Personal life

He is married to Peggy Hobson, a former Hinds County supervisor, and is of Missionary Baptist faith.[2][21]

He has been a member of the Elks Lodge, Freemasons, and Kappa Alpha Psi; he has served on the Mississippi Boy Scouts council.[4] He has also been affiliated with the NAACP and AARP.[2]

References

  1. ^ a b c Watley, Sylvia (November 29, 1979). "Calhoun begins assembling community committee". Clarion-Ledger. p. 101.
  2. ^ a b c d e "Credell Calhoun". Mississippi State Legislature. Archived from the original on December 22, 2019.
  3. ^ a b Mississippi Official and Statistical Register 1980-1984. Mississippi Secretary of State. 1981.
  4. ^ a b c d Sewell, George A.; Dwight, Margaret L. (1984). Mississippi Black History Makers. University Press of Mississippi. p. 88. ISBN 978-1-60473-390-7.
  5. ^ a b "Calhoun enters race for House from District 68". Clarion-Ledger. June 13, 1979. p. 64.
  6. ^ a b Adams, Ross (July 25, 2019). "Profanity-laced argument breaks out between lawmakers during radio show". WAPT. Retrieved December 13, 2025.
  7. ^ Howell, Kaitlin (August 17, 2023). "Hinds County Supervisor Calhoun loses District 3 race". WJTV. Retrieved December 12, 2025.
  8. ^ Simmons, Grace (April 8, 1992). "Political hues begin tinting Jackson: Fund-raising green". Clarion-Ledger. p. 11.
  9. ^ Gates, Jimmie; Simmons, Grace (August 5, 1992). "Banks wins Calhoun's House seat". Clarion-Ledger. p. 8.
  10. ^ Aden, Markey (August 30, 1992). "Coalition for black mayor endorses Kirksey". Clarion-Ledger. p. 1.
  11. ^ Kanengiser, Andy (May 19, 1993). "Calhoun beats Brown in City Council race". Clarion-Ledger. p. 6.
  12. ^ Simmons, Grace (May 30, 1995). "City Council slated to pick new leader". Clarion-Ledger. p. 11.
  13. ^ "New Leader: Calhoun faces challenges for city". Clarion-Ledger. June 1, 1995. p. 12.
  14. ^ Lindsay, Arnold (May 21, 1997). "Armstrong Seated; Brown advances". Clarion-Ledger. p. 1.
  15. ^ Brown, Riva (February 6, 1999). "Central transportation commissioner race includes 3 from Jackson area". Clarion-Ledger. p. 20.
  16. ^ Kanengiser, Andy (July 3, 1999). "Candidates lay groundwork for commissioner job". Clarion-Ledger. p. 15.
  17. ^ Kraft, Beverly Pettigrew (August 4, 1999). "Transportation race pitts Hall, Richardson". Clarion-Ledger. p. 7.
  18. ^ Gates, Jimmie E. (May 16, 2001). "Brown keeps Ward 4 seat". Clarion-Ledger. p. 1.
  19. ^ Kanengiser, Andy (August 7, 2003). "Legislative primaries produce 6 upsets". Clarion-Ledger. p. 8.
  20. ^ Cagie, Maybelle G. (November 6, 2003). "Gunn, Calhoun win House seats". The Clinton News. p. 1.
  21. ^ Lucas, Sherry (June 15, 1992). "Electing to form a ticket for life". Clarion-Ledger. p. 29.
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