As a Lafayette Count Supervisor, Kevin Frye has an eye on the long term.

Frye decided he would run for the District 9 State Senate seat in the fall of 2018, which would take the knowledge and relationships he’s garnered as a supervisor to the state level.

This is because he knows what happens on the state level directly affects what happens on the local level.

“I believe that my experience will allow me to go to Jackson, if elected, and represent the needs of our broad community,” Frye said Friday.

Frye, who also serves as an attorney in Oxford, prides himself on being present where decisions have been made as a supervisor.

However, the responsibilities as a State Senator will put Panola County, as well as the cities of Sardis and Batesville, under his supervision. Frye’s experience overseeing the multiple parts of Lafayette County has allowed him to get involved in those communities.

“What I understand is that we have a very diverse community with a diverse set of needs,” Frye said. “But I feel like my involvement across all those areas will allow me to make decisions putting the needs of our community first.”

As the county supervisor, Frye has been involved with improving the local infrastructure.

There has been legislation passed on infrastructure in the past, and the supervisors passed a comprehensive plan in 2017, which is a guide for present and future supervisors, as well as other county leaders, to guide the county’s growth over the next 20 years.

However, this doesn’t just include the basic infrastructure.

“Infrastructure is not just roads and bridges, it includes a water and sewer systems which remain an issue in this community,” Frye said. “It also includes an issue, that has come top of mind lately and I hope the legislature will address this year, which is broadband infrastructure.”

The need for more reliable Internet is something Frye recently addressed as a supervisor. The board passed a resolution asking for the state government to allow election power associations to provide Internet for residents.

“If the education system can’t send students home to do homework utilizing a broadband and they don’t have access to broadband or the Internet, then that negatively impacts their ability to learn which negatively impacts workforce development for businesses,” Frye said. “There is discussion in Jackson about a allowing utility providers to also provide broadband and I’m 100 percent in support of that.”

Frye wants to encourage the idea the state government can be reliable for the local residents of Lafayette. Some recent examples of this are the West Oxford Loop and Sisk Avenue projects, which are joint-funded projects.

This is all part of Frye’s promise to understand issues before taking stances on where they need to go.

“I can guarantee you I’m going to work hard for this community and for the residents of Senate district nine if they’ll give me the opportunity,” Frye said.