Mississippi’s longtime insurance commissioner, Mike Chaney, has been correct in saying that his job should be an appointed position, rather than an elected one.
Having lost that argument to an election-happy Legislature, though, Chaney is doing what most elected officials without term limits tend to do: try to stay in office much longer than they should.
Last week, the 82-year-old officeholder confirmed to Magnolia Tribune that he plans to run for a sixth term in 2027. He should reconsider.
Chaney has performed well overall in the job, but there comes a time when those in public office should step aside and let someone from a younger generation take over.
Chaney has reached that point.
If he wins re-election next year, he will be nearly 88 years old by the time he finishes that term. Unless he’s superhuman, there’s no way he can perform the job with the same energy and managerial skill that he once had.
He should acknowledge that, gracefully retire and spare the voters from having to decide whether to send him home.
