Bennie Thompson

A Representative from Mississippi; born in Bolton, Hinds County, Miss., January 28, 1948; B.A., Tougaloo College, Tougaloo, Miss., 1968; M.S., Jackson State University, Jackson, Miss., 1972; teacher; member, Bolton, Miss., board of aldermen, 1969-1973; mayor, Bolton, Miss., 1973-1979; member, Hinds County, Miss., board of supervisors, 1980-1993; elected as a Democrat to the One Hundred Third Congress by special election to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of United States Representative Mike Espy and reelected to the ten succeeding Congresses (April 13, 1993-present); chair, Committee on Homeland Security (One Hundred Tenth and One Hundred Eleventh Congresses).