A state legislator has made history in the Magnolia State.

Rep. Becky Currie, R-Brookhaven, is the first female president of the Mississippi House Conservative Coalition.

“This organization has been around for 21 years and it came in 1996,” Currie said. “It’s been around for a long time, but I’m the first woman that has been elected.”

As president, Currie will be responsible for meeting with the group to decide which coalition bills to write.

“We educate and write legislation that has to do with small government, family values and low taxes. We write and get behind the legislation that stands with those three principles,” Currie said. “The members will know that’s our bill and we’ll support it and see it through the process.”

After the bills go to the Legislature, the Coalition is updated on their progress.

“Someone comes in and give us a report on how we did, which shows if it was good or not for the state,” Currie said. “We look at the legislation we supported to make sure it went like we wanted it to go. If it didn’t, we have to look at it and see if it’s something we want to continue to support.”

Currie said the members select a maximum of three projects to support through the legislative process. Those projects must fall within the Coalition’s three principles. 

It’s a two-year term, and she looks forward to the challenge. Of the 65 members, only six are women.

Currie wants to use her position to encourage more women to run for office. She will officially take office after the legislative session ends in a week.

“It was an honor for me to be elected president by a mostly-male coalition,” Currie said. “I’m proud that I have their support and they trust me to lead this organization.”