NATCHEZ &8212; One race on Tuesday&8217;s ballot will be for the U.S. House of Representatives. Candidates include Jim Giles-I, Lamonica L. Magee-Reform and Chip Pickering-R.

Magee could not be contacted.

Jim Giles

Jim Giles is running as an independent.

His political career began in Atlanta, where he published a newsletter arguing to keep confederate flags in state flags.

&8220;No one was louder in the support of our old flag than me,&8221; Giles said Friday.

He ran for Congress in 2002 and 2004 and for governor of Mississippi in 1998.

If elected, Giles said he would focus on energy independence, secure borders and ending free trade, he said.

&8220;I would genuinely represent the interest of most Mississippians who live in the third congressional district,&8221; he said.

He said he would specifically like to abolish affirmative action.

&8220;That would be a huge success in and of itself,&8221; he said. &8220;The forced integration we all live in is a disgrace.&8221;

Giles also said he wanted to immediately bring home troops stationed in Iraq. He also described himself as anti-Zionist, or against the support of Israel.

&8220;I don&8217;t care what happens (in Iraq),&8221; he said.

&8220;Let the Arabs and Jews fight amongst themselves. Our national security interests are on our borders.&8221;

Rep. Chip Pickering

Rep. Chip Pickering has served in the U.S. House of Representatives since 1996 and serves as vice chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee.

Pickering said he thought experience counted when addressing issues like national security, Hurricane Katrina recovery and promoting a new energy policy.

&8220;This is an opportunity not only to continue Mississippi&8217;s recovery but to promote Mississippi&8217;s economy through the energy expansion that is taking place across the state,&8221; Pickering said.

Along with promoting new energy development, Pickering said he plans to help build up the universities and community colleges in the state to help economic development.

&8220;We are positioned in the center of the fastest growing region of the country, and I think we should take advantage of our economic opportunities,&8221; he said.

Pickering said he plans to focus on healthcare and building services and improving access to quality healthcare.

Throughout his political career, he said he was especially proud of the telecommunications act passed in 1996 and the energy bill passed in 2005.

&8220;I think a lot of the energy investment coming to Mississippi is partially due to that legislation,&8221; he said.

&8220;The Rentech announcement for Natchez, the expansion of nuclear capacity in Port Gibson and the expanded oil and gas recovery across the state comes from that legislation.&8221;