NATCHEZ — All three state representatives who serve a portion of Adams County were appointed Friday to chair three committees in the Mississippi House of Representatives.

Rep. Sam Mims is chairman of the Public Health and Human Services committee. Rep. Robert L. Johnson III will lead the Transportation committee. Rep. Angela Cockerham will lead the Energy committees.

With the House appointments, as well as Sen. Melanie Sojourner and Sen. Kelvin Butler appointments as Senate Forestry Committee chairman and Labor chairman, respectively, Johnson said southwestern Mississippi has unprecedented chairmanship power.

“All of our area’s state leaders that were appointed will serve as chairmen of major or mid-major committees,” Johnson said. “We have the opportunity to make some things happen, not just in Adams County but all throughout southwest Mississippi.”

Mims, a Republican, said he believes House Speaker Philip Gunn carefully looked at the representatives’ talents and abilities, and he said is very excited he has been chosen to lead a very important committee.

“Health care is a large part of our economy here in Mississippi,” he said. “It’s a great responsibility.”

Republicans took control of the House in November for the first time since Reconstruction, and Mims said he is ready to help lead the House into a newer, conservative direction.

“Health care is important to everyone, and I’m looking forward to seeing what pieces of legislation come through our committee,” he said.

The state’s transportation agency, Johnson said, has the third largest budget in the state at just more than $1 billion. He said transportation infrastructure is one of the biggest factors in economic development.

“One of the things we will work diligently to do in southwest Mississippi is improve the (transportation) ways in and out of Adams County,” he said. “I have the opportunity, as Bob Dearing had when he served as chairman, to improve the highways, rail system and all other transportation.”

Transportation improvements, Johnson said, are vital because the county and state are on the cusp of more and more economic development.

Johnson said it was the area’s representatives’ responsibility to do as much as possible in their newly appointed positions.

“We have the opportunity to make some things happen not just in Adams County but all throughout Mississippi,” he said.

Cockerham could not be reached for comment.