The Gazebo Gazette
JACKSON (GG) — Lieutenant Governor Delbert Hosemann announced Tuesday, June 17 his appointments to the Mississippi Opioid Settlement Advisory Council, tasked with guiding the allocation of opioid settlement funds to address substance abuse and its impacts across the state.
Hosemann named Mark Stovall and Andy Taggart as his two voting-member appointees, and Senator Nicole Boyd and Senator Angela Turner Ford as his two Senator appointments.
“These appointments bring professional expertise and deep personal commitment to combating the opioid crisis that has devastated too many Mississippians,” Hosemann said. “Their guidance will help ensure the Mississippi legislature uses these funds wisely to save lives, support families, and prevent future opioid misuse.”
The Opioid Settlement Advisory Council was created during the Mississippi Legislature’s 2025 regular session through the passage of Senate Bill 2767 to provide recommendations on the disbursement of funds recovered by the state through various legal actions against opioid manufacturers and distributors. These funds are intended to support prevention, treatment, recovery, and harm reduction efforts statewide.
Andy Taggart, a longtime Mississippi attorney and former Chief of Staff to the Governor’s Office, brings decades of experience in law, government, and public service. He is a founding partner of Taggart Rimes Attorneys PLLC, has served on numerous state boards and commissions, and is a published author and frequent speaker on law and politics.
After losing his son to suicide on the heels of substance abuse, Taggart and his wife became vocal advocates for addressing drug abuse and expanding access to prevention and recovery resources.
Mark Stovall, CEO of Ocean’s Healthcare, has extensive experience in addiction and behavioral health services. He previously served as CEO and COO of Oxford Treatment Center, Director of the Bureau of Alcohol and Drug Services at the Mississippi Department of Health and led multiple treatment and crisis intervention programs across the state.
Stovall also directed the Mississippi School for Addiction Professionals, training and mentoring the next generation of counselors and clinicians. A person in long-term recovery himself, he has dedicated his career to expanding access to effective, compassionate care for individuals and families facing substance use challenges.
