Family

Wife: Sandra Dawson Spell, from Bolton, MS (Deceased)

Children: Jason (26), Mississippi College graduate;
Katie (23), Nursing School, Hinds Community College

Experience, Education and Leadership

• Commissioner of Agriculture & Commerce 1996-Present
• Practicing Veterinarian 1970-1995
• Mayor 1975-1995
• Farmer
• Captain U.S. Army Veterinary Corps. 1968-1970
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University 1968
• Mississippi State University 1961-1964 (Pre-Veterinary Medicine)
• President, Mississippi Veterinary Medical Association
• President, Mississippi Municipal Association
• President, Mississippi Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association
• President, Southern United States Trade Association
• President, Southern Association of State Departments of Agriculture
• Chairman, Mississippi State Fair Commission
• Mississippi Veterinarian of the Year Award
• Member and Deacon, First Baptist Church, Jackson
• Member, Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation
• Member, National Rifle Association

Lester Spell is the most qualified candidate as Mississippi’s Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce. His background and qualifications are second to none. His responsibilities as the Commissioner of the Mississippi Department of Agriculture & Commerce (MDAC) are broad and affect the lives of all Mississippians every day.

Achievements

Streamlining government, protecting consumers, and developing new markets.

• Under Lester Spell's leadership, the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce has been streamlined with a decrease of 33% in workforce by utilizing new technology, implementing employee cross-training, and combining the responsibilities of personnel. This has increased employee work output by 20%, and I will continue these cost-effective measures as the Commissioner to better protect and promote the Mississippi farmer and citizen. No other state agency can match that reduction of personnel and increased efficiency of operation.  It has resulted in more than a $34 million in savings for the state.
  
  
• Commissioner Spell has strictly enforced food safety for all Mississippians. Under his direction, the Department of Agriculture has rigorously inspected all Mississippi grocery stores (2,383 licensed stores) and meat processing plants (61 plants). His efforts have led to the removal of contaminated imported fish and seafood products (see Governor Barbour's letter) from store shelves and various national recalled food products as designated by USDA and FDA. Since 1996, Dr. Spell’s first year in office as Commissioner, no food recall from any Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce inspected meat plants has taken place.
  
  
• Commissioner Spell initiated many valuable programs that have enhanced the state’s vast agricultural opportunities. Marketing programs such as the "Make Mine Mississippi" Program, the "Farm to School" Program, and many educational workshops for farmers, children, and the general public alike have allowed for many opportunities in agriculture and agricultural-based businesses. Not to mention, many opportunities have been offered to children and young adults at the Mississippi Agriculture and Forestry Museum. Commissioner Spell also very actively supports many projects through the 4-H Club and the Future Farmers of America (FFA), which focus on the agricultural education of Mississippi’s youth.
  
  
• Mississippi agriculture definitely has a role in the alternative energy market. Currently in 2007, Mississippi has planted 950,000 acres of corn and 1.5 million acres of soybeans. Portions of these crops go to the alternative energy markets of ethanol and bio-diesel. With the current research being done in cellulosic production of bio-fuels, Mississippi is in a great position to capitalize by utilizing our vast amounts of wood and wood products that can be so easily grown in our state.