Taylor rolls in 4th District race

By By Fredie Carmichael / staff writer
November 3, 2004
It didn't take long for Democratic incumbent U.S. Rep. Gene Taylor to learn he'd be serving as South Mississippi's congressman for two more years.
Taylor, a member of Congress since 1989, began celebrating his victory in the 4th Congressional District at about 9 p.m. as he watched television returns.
Beau Gex, Taylor's district chief of staff, said a crowd of supporters surrounded Taylor at the Biloxi Beach Resort as he began to celebrate victory.
The race for the 4th District, which covers South Mississippi and heads as far north as Clarke County, was expected by some to be the most hotly contested congressional election in the state.
But Taylor easily defeated Republican Mike Lott and Reform Party candidate Tracella Lou O'Hara Hill. Taylor received about 65 percent of the vote.
Lott, a state House member since 2000, conceded defeat at about 10 p.m. as he and about 100 supporters met at the Jackie Dole Sherrill Community Center in downtown Hattiesburg.
Jason Meaux, a field representative for Lott, said Lott was thankful for all the support he received.