Elected and Appointed Government Officials 2017

Whoever said that “nice guys finish last” has not met Mississippi’s Insurance Commissioner, Mike Chaney.  And even through turbulent political issues like Obamacare, Chaney has kept an even keel and a smile on his face and has shown the ability to work with local, state and national officials to achieve good government.  He is leading to make strides in healthcare reform; disaster recovery from flood, tornado and hurricane events; bail bond industry reform; and reductions in state fire deaths.

A Tupelo native and long-time resident of Vicksburg, Chaney also serves as the state’s Fire Marshall as part of his combined duties of his Insurance Commissioner position.  He was inducted into the Insurance Hall of Fame at his alma mater, Mississippi State University. He received the Distinguished Service Award from the University of Mississippi Risk Management and Insurance program and its Professional Society. He has been named one of the top insurance professionals by Insurance Business America Magazine, and was named a Healthcare Hero by the Mississippi Business Journal.

Prior to taking office in January 2008, Commissioner Chaney served seven years in the Mississippi House of Representatives and eight years in the Mississippi Senate, where he was the first Republican to serve as Chairman of the Education Committee.  During that time, he also served as a key member of the Senate Insurance Committee and Chairman of the Senate Education Committee.

He is a graduate of Mississippi State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business and Finance and is a veteran of the United States Army, serving in Vietnam from 1968-69.