Brookhaven attorney Bill Boerner has announced his intentions toseek a seat in the Mississippi Senate.

The 62-year-old Republican said Wednesday he is submittingqualifying papers to run for the Senate in District 39, whichincludes all of Lincoln and Lawrence counties and some of SimpsonCounty. The seat went up for grabs late last month when currentSen. Cindy Hyde-Smith, R-Brookhaven, qualified to run for theposition of Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce.

“I’ve always been interested in politics. I’ve been a critic ofthe Mississippi Legislature as long as I can remember, and this ismy opportunity to do something about that,” Boerner said.

Boerner said his political interests follow the Republican line- shrinking the size of government, limiting taxes and ensuringfiscal responsibility. He desires a reformed state budget thatfunds education and is a supporter of the Mississippi School of theArts.

A Brookhaven High School graduate of 1967, Boerner graduatedfrom Millsaps College with bachelor’s in political science in 1971and earned his law degree from Ole Miss in 1973. He owns BoernerLaw Firm, P.C., and is a member of the Mississippi Bar Association,the Lincoln County Bar Association and the Mississippi Associationfor Justice.

Boerner is a former board member for the Brookhaven SchoolDistrict, member and past director of the Brookhaven-Lincoln CountyChamber of Commerce and 36-year member of the Brookhaven KiwanisClub.

He served as Brookhaven Municipal Court judge from 1975-1981 andis a founding member of the Hog Chain Volunteer FireDepartment.

Boerner has been married to Merrie Boerner for 40 years. Theyhave three children and four grandchildren. He attends FaithPresbyterian Church, where serves as a deacon and member of thechoir.