SOUTH MISSISSIPPI – The race for the Mississippi Court of Appeals District 5, Position 2, has intensified as candidates Amy St. Pe, Jennifer Schloegel, and Ian Baker make their case to voters ahead of the November 2024 election. A key aspect of their campaigns is the financial backing they’ve received, with significant donations from both in-state and out-of-state contributors.
The Mississippi Court of Appeals serves as an intermediate appellate court, meaning it reviews cases appealed from lower courts, such as circuit and chancery courts, across the state. Established to ease the workload of the Mississippi Supreme Court, the Court of Appeals handles cases that are assigned to it by the Supreme Court. These often involve disputes around family law, civil lawsuits, and administrative agency decisions.
Let’s meet the candidates.
Amy St. Pe: Leading in Fundraising and Out-of-State Support
Amy St. Pe leads in fundraising with $154,050 in contributions. Her biggest in-state donors include J.R. Carter Sr. and Terry W. Green, both owners of Island View Casino, who each contributed $5,000. She also received $5,000 from Dr. Samir Tomajian, a physician at Memorial Health Systems, and $3,750 each from real estate developers Ed Trehern and Adam Dial.
St. Pe stands out for her substantial out-of-state support, collecting over $15,000 (nearly 10% of donations) from donors outside Mississippi. Among her notable out-of-state contributors are William C. McVea, an Alabama-based insurance broker, and Terry W. Green, based in Texas, both of whom donated $5,000. Tom Mackay, a music executive from California, contributed $2,500.
St. Pe, a seasoned attorney with 22 years of experience, has held numerous governmental legal roles, including her current positions as City Attorney for Moss Point and part-time Municipal Judge for Gautier.
Jennifer Schloegel: Strong Local Contributions
Jennifer Schloegel has raised $136,869, with her biggest contributors coming from Mississippi. Notable donors include attorney James R. Reeves Jr., who gave $5,000, and Dr. Michael Payment, a physician from Memorial Health Systems, who contributed $2,500. Schloegel’s out-of-state donations are more modest, totaling $750 (less than 1 percent of total), with contributions from Jackson Wagner in Virginia and Steven J. Irwin in Louisiana.
Schloegel, a longtime Chancery Court Judge for Harrison, Hancock, and Stone counties, has built a strong local support base. Her 14-year tenure on the bench, dealing with complex civil and domestic cases, adds to her credibility and appeal to voters.
Ian Baker: Lean Spending, Solid Cash Reserves
Ian Baker, an assistant district attorney, has raised $70,780, placing him behind St. Pe and Schloegel in total contributions. However, his lean campaign spending, just $2,792, leaves him with $67,987 in cash on hand, suggesting a strategic focus on the latter stages of the campaign. Information on his donors has not yet been made available, but Baker’s financial discipline indicates he will be well-positioned to compete as the race heats up.
Support from Local Politicians
Notably, two state senators have made financial contributions to this race. Senator Brice Wiggins has donated to both Amy St. Pe and Jennifer Schloegel, giving $1,000 to St. Pe and $500 to Schloegel. Additionally, Senator Jeremy England has exclusively supported Amy St. Pe with a $1,000 contribution. Biloxi Mayor Andrew “FoFo” Gilich contributed $500 to Schloegel.
Vote in November
As the Mississippi Court of Appeals District 5, Position 2, race progresses, fundraising will continue to play a pivotal role. Amy St. Pe leads in both total contributions and out-of-state support, while Jennifer Schloegel enjoys strong local backing. Ian Baker, with his minimal expenditures, remains a contender with significant cash reserves. Voters will have the final say on November 5, 2024, in what is shaping up to be a closely contested race.
(Financial data for this article has been compiled from the candidates’ most recent mandatory financial disclosure reports, filed with the Secretary of State’s office.)
