Though he is now running for office in his hometown, Manning native Mitchell Ellerby is no stranger to state politics.
He served as a representative in the Missouri State House from 1984-92.
“I want to serve, and with the experience I’ve gained over the years, I think I can bring that back to Sumter and Clarendon County to serve the people,” he said.
Born and raised in the Sugar Hill community of Clarendon County, Ellerby found himself in Mississippi because of work after returning from service in Vietnam.
“I had been working at the Sunbeam plant here, and I was told my job didn’t exist,” he said. “I went back to Benedict College and went to WIS-TV and ended up in Mississippi with Sears in management training.”
But he’s always come home frequently, he said, “to see about my family and our property here.”
While serving in the Missouri legislature, he was appointed as the Port Authority commissioner for Jackson County by former Gov. William Winters. He also served on the committees for Ways and Means; Education; Public Building Grounds and Land; and Soil and Water Conservation.
“I represented an area called Pascagoula-Mosspoint, better known for its refineries and shipbuilding,” he said.
After retirement from Chevron Oil refinery, Ellerby returned to the area., officially changing his address in late December 2015.
“I’ve always claimed Manning as my native home; I’ve never lost sight of that,” he said.
Ellerby said his main campaign issues are agriculture and aquaculture; forestry; education and technology programs; and tourism and economic development.
“I think we have a sleeping giant here in Clarendon County, along with Sumter County,” he said. “This area has so much potential to it. A big way to develop this area is in education. We need to make sure we retain our teachers by continuing to give them pay raises and classroom supplies to teach with, and the technology programs and partnerships with local universities and colleges must continue.”
He said such partnerships gives “our children a diverse learning environment.”
“With the Boeing plant and the tire plant so nearby, we need to bring our children up to par where they will understand what needs to be done in the workforce; that’s where my experience comes in from having worked in similar industries,” Ellerby said.
He said he would also like to see more farmers develop aquaculture.
“You can grow crawfish and other fish, with fiberglass vats or concrete vats, and the wastewater can be placed in an area where you can grow cattails that will absorb the waste out of it. That water can then be discharged back into rivers or lakes, or it can be used to water your other crops.”
“It’s a great opportunity for small farmers,” Ellerby said. “It generates jobs as well as food.”
Ellerby said he was pleased to see the House and Senate override Gov. Nikki Haley’s veto of $40 million in farm aid due to the historic floods in October 2015.
“I was a little disappointed with Gov. Haley when she vetoed it; she gave her reasoning, and I understand that,” said Ellerby. “But I think the farmers are your first line of generating food for the nation, and I wish she would have reconsidered that.”
“You can’t class farmers like you do big and small business; they’re a unique operation of their own, and they needed help,” Ellerby added.
Ellerby said he is spending his time on the campaign trail going door-to-door and letting people hear his message.
“I believe that my experience will best help the people of Clarendon and Sumter counties,” he said. “I see that we can do some things here in Clarendon County and in the legislature to bring prosperity to the people as well as the county coffers.”
Ellerby and his wife Sarah, formerly of Salters, have three sons. The couple has one grandchild and another on the way. They attend Providence Christian Church on Sugar Hill Road.
Ellerby is active in the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the American Legion. He has served as past-commander for both, along with district commander.
“I believe in veterans helping veterans,” he said. “As a Vietnam veteran, I see the need for veteran involvement in the community.”
