Biography
Andy Taggart Andy Taggart has maintained his own law practice in Madison, Mississippi since 2002. Taggart is the co-author of two popular books. Mississippi Fried Politics: Tall Tales from the Back Rooms, was released in November of 2008, and Mississippi Politics: The Struggle for Power, 1976-2006, soon to be re-released in a revised edition, was first published by the University Press of Mississippi in November of 2006. Andy has also authored or co-authored works published by The University of Mississippi Law Journal, The Mississippi Lawyer, The Journal of the Mississippi Academy of Sciences, The Journal of Mississippi History, and a wide variety of professional, business and trade periodicals. With his co-author, Andy is a daily featured writer on the Jackson, Mississippi Clarion-Ledger’s “Red/Blue Blog”, and a weekly television commentator and analyst on Jackson’s WLBT TV3 “Red Blue Review”. He was elected to a term of service on the Madison County, Mississippi Board of Supervisors. Commencing a four-year term in 2003, Andy was elected President in January of 2007, in which position he served until his term ended at the beginning of 2008.		T: 601-853-4160   F: 601-853-4176     Email: Andy

Taggart also served as President and CEO of the Mississippi Technology Alliance from August of 2002 through October of 2005. He led the company to both regional and national recognition. MTA is a non-profit economic development company, devoted to the creation and enhancement of an environment leading to more and higher paying jobs in Mississippi in the technology and innovation sectors.

Taggart first commenced the practice of law in 1985. When asked to serve as Chief of Staff to Governor Kirk Fordice, he left his law practice in 1991 and served in that capacity until 1994, where he was instrumental in the ramp up of Mississippi’s first Republican administration in the twentieth century.
Following work as a manufacturing business owner and partner in a government relations consulting firm, Andy returned to the practice of law in 1998. During the 1990’s, Taggart taught as an adjunct Professor of History and Political Science at Mississippi College, his undergraduate alma mater, and is often called on as a guest lecturer still.

A long-time presence in the governmental, policy and political arenas, he served as a member of the Mississippi Advisory Committee to the United States Civil Rights Commission from 1988 to 1993; served as the Executive Director of the Mississippi Republican Party in 1984; and as the Political Director of the Mississippi Republican Party in 1980 and 1981.

Taggart currently serves on the Board of Trustees of Mississippi College. Previously, he served as Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Mississippi Center for Public Policy, and as a member of the Board of Trustees of FamilyNet, Inc., the television and radio broadcasting subsidiary of the North American Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention. He served four years as a gubernatorial appointee on the Mississippi Arts Commission and a three year term on the Board of Directors of the Madison County Chamber of Commerce.

A frequent speaker at major events, in 2007 Andy offered the Summer Commencement address at Mississippi College, and was named an Otho Smith Fellow by the University of Mississippi School of Business Administration. He has been named a Leading Edge Lecturer by the Mississippi Universities Center, and was selected as a Spring Commencement speaker at Belhaven College.

A 1979 graduate of Mississippi College, he holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science with High Honors and Distinction. As a Presidential Scholar, he received a four-year academic scholarship to Mississippi College, and was also named the Una Touchstone Owen Scholar, an additional academic scholarship covering his senior year. In 1992, Taggart was named Mississippi College’s Distinguished Alumnus in Political Science.

Taggart received his Juris Doctor cum laude from Tulane University in 1984. To study at Tulane, Andy was named the Hale Boggs Scholar, awarded to the entering student with the highest overall record, which consisted of a full three-year academic scholarship. He also served on the Senior Editorial Board of the Tulane Law Review and on Tulane’s Jessup International Moot Court competition team.