Lafayette County Supervisor Frye to Run for Mississippi Senator

By Alyssa Schnugg
News Editor
alyssa.schnugg@hottytoddy.com

Lafayette County District 1 Supervisor Kevin Frye announced Friday his intent to run for District 9 Mississippi Senator.
Photo provided by Kevin Frye

After just one term as a Lafayette County supervisor Kevin Frye has decided to reach beyond the county’s borders and help guide the state as a whole.

On Friday, Frye, who serves as the District 1 supervisor, announced his intention to run for the Mississippi District 9 Senate seat, currently held by Sen. Gray Tollison.

It was unknown Friday morning if Tollison, a Republican, tends to run to retain the seat he’s held since 1996. He told Hottytoddy.com Friday he will make a formal announcement on Jan. 7 in regards to the upcoming elections in 2019.

Frye said he plans to formally qualify to run for the Mississippi Senate on Jan. 2. The candidate qualifying period begins Jan. 2 and ends March 1.

While supervisor, Frye helped guide the process of updating Lafayette County’s Comprehensive Plan as Chair of the Steering Committee. He also serves as the Board’s representative to the Oxford-Lafayette County Economic Development Foundation. The plan, which establishes a long-term vision for the future of Lafayette County, was adopted unanimously by the Board of Supervisors in November 2017.

Frye, a Democrat, said the process leading to the adoption of the Comprehensive Plan was a model of effective community leadership.

“How to responsibly manage our rapid growth was the most critical issue facing Lafayette County in 2016 when our term began,” he said. “We needed a plan. We immediately got to work and held more than 40 public meetings where we discussed the history of our community, the positives and negatives we were experiencing due to growth, and the shared vision we had for our future success … I want to bring this open, community building leadership style to the Legislature as we seek to address issues vital to Mississippi’s future, like infrastructure and education.”

A graduate of Leadership Lafayette, Frye has served on the Boards of Timber Lake Homeowners Association, Theatre Oxford, and Young Professionals of Oxford. He served as President of the Lafayette County Bar Association for the 2017-18 program year and is currently a member of the Vestry at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Oxford.

Frye and his wife, Ashley with their two sons, Liam and Nathan.
Photo provided

Frye is the founding partner of Frye Reeves, PLLC, a full-service law firm. Prior to opening his law practice, he served as law clerk for the judges of the Third Judicial District Circuit Court. He is a graduate of the University of Mississippi School of Law. Prior to law school, Frye earned a bachelor’s degree in Music Education.

“I enjoy building community, which requires building relationships. The only way to do that is to step-up, show-up, and work hard every day,” Frye said.

Frye and his wife Ashley have two sons, Liam, almost 3, and 18-month-old Nathan.