| Jay Paul Gumm | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Oklahoma Senate from the 6th district |
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| In office 2002–2010 |
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| Personal details | |
| Born | November 29, 1963 Durant, Oklahoma |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse(s) | Deena |
| Children | Jacob |
| Residence | Wiggins, MS |
| Alma mater | Southeastern Oklahoma State University - Graduate Work University of Southern Mississippi |
| Occupation | economic development professional, consultant, real estate agent - inactive, property investor |
| Religion | United Methodist |
Jay Paul Gumm is an Oklahoma Democratic politician who served in the Oklahoma Senate representing District 6, which includes all of Bryan, Johnston and Marshall counties and parts of Atoka and Coal counties in southern Oklahoma from 2002 through 2010. He served as an Assistant Minority Floor Leader, Assistant Majority Floor Leader, Chairman of the Sunset Review Committee, Chairman of the Finance Committee and the Co-Chairman of the Senate Energy Committee. As Finance Committee Chairman, he worked to strengthen Oklahoma's laws relating to job creation and economic expansion.
His tenure will be remembered for his passionate work trying to establish a sales tax holiday for school supplies and to expand state insurance mandates to include people diagnosed with Autism. A former chamber of commerce executive, he was a voice for economic development and growth. In the 2010 Election cycle, he was surprisingly defeated in a wave of Republican victories which swept through Oklahoma and the nation as part of the 2010 Election.
Knowing his economic development credentials, Gumm was hired in January 2011 by the Stone County, Mississippi Economic Development Partnership as its executive director. The partnership is based in the county seat of Wiggins, located halfway between Hattiesburg and Gulfport on U.S. Highway 49 in South Mississippi.
“This was an exhaustive search and we looked at candidates from across the region,” said Tim Adam, chair of the Stone County EDP Search Committee, upon Gumm's hiring. “Jay Paul has an impressive background in both economic development policy and practice. We are fortunate to have someone with his talent and background who will be working on behalf of the businesses and interests of Stone County.”
Local leaders who were a part of the search committee expressed enthusiasm for the selection. Dale Bond, president of the Board of Supervisors, said, “Jay Paul's experience working with state legislators and economic development leaders should help us develop new approaches for bringing business and industry to our county. I think he represents the economic development vision we need.”
“As mayor of the City of Wiggins, I look forward to working with Mr. Gumm. His emphasis on bringing all the players to the table will strengthen Stone County and Wiggins' efforts to create and bring jobs for our citizens,” said Jerry Alexander. “We welcome Jay Paul and his family to our community.”
Charged with raising the profile of Stone County, focusing on quality of life issues and the region's "business-friendly" status, Gumm has been very successful in a short time. The county has received positive stories in the "Sun Herald" newspaper out of the Gulfport/Biloxi area, including an editorial touting Gumm's passionate advocacy of the area.
The Stone County Economic Development Partnership has both initiated and restarted community relations efforts that have been successful. The community's Pine Hill Festival in April had one of its largest crowds ever. The community has rallied behind an effort to secure state legislative redistricting that is more favorable, and those efforts received notice that likely will pay dividends to Stone County when Mississippi lawmakers return to Jackson in 2012 and try again to draw legislative districts.
Even prior to taking the job in South Mississippi, Gumm completed all classwork necessary to sit for the examination to become a certified economic developer (CEcD).