WESSON – Brookhaven High School student James Wesley Dennis wasall business Tuesday night after being elected governor of the 2007American Legion Boys State.

Dennis was part of a dominating sweep by Federalists that sawthe political party capture six of eight statewide offices at the64th annual convention on the campus of Copiah-Lincoln CommunityCollege. Activities during the session teach young men from acrossthe state about government and politics.

Dennis, 17, exulted in his victory and then went to the podiumto perform his first action as governor. He appointed the losers ofstatewide elections to the Boys State Senate or House ofRepresentatives.

Dennis said the governorship opens up doors for his future.

“It will improve my chances for getting scholarships toprestigious colleges,” he said.

The Boys State governor plans to major in political science andlaw to help him pursue a career in politics.

Boys State is modeled on state government and elected officialswill act in the capacity for the office for the remainder of theconvention, which ends Friday.

Delegates gain an understanding of elections and government bycampaigning for state, county or municipal office. They thenactually perform the jobs of their real-world counterparts bypresenting and debating bills in their legislature and working oneconomic development packages for their areas.

Dennis, the son of James and Cassandra Dennis of Brookhaven,said he ran on a political platform of fully funding education andMedicare and Medicaid. He admitted it was a political strategy, butsaid they were issues that also interested him greatly.

His aunt, Andrea Wilson of Brookhaven, said she was notsurprised by the platform, but had not been able to speak to himsince his victory.

“Wesley is very outgoing and anything about helping thecommunity has his interest,” she said. “We’re all excited forhim.”

Soft-spoken and quiet, Dennis is very active in his church,Pregospel Outreach Ministry, where his plays the organ and pianoand serves as youth speaker, Wilson said.

Others elected to state office include Nathan Nunnelee of TupeloHigh School, lieutenant governor; Cortez Moss of Calhoun City HighSchool, secretary of state; Tyler Todd, a homeschooler fromQuitman, attorney general; John LeCourt of Parklane Academy inMcComb, state auditor; Cody Ming of Louisville-Winston Academy,state treasurer; Jordan Sacks of Diamondhead, insurancecommissioner; and John Delee of Parklane Academy, agriculturecommissioner.

State Supreme Court Justice James Graves swore in the Boys Stateofficials this morning in the Mississippi House chambers at theCapitol.