A longtime Mississippi policymaker is back in the hospital after a stroke over the weekend.
State Rep. Gary Chism, a Columbus Republican, suffered what colleagues referred to as a “mild stroke,” and was hospitalized, before being released on Monday.
Fellow State Rep. Rob Roberson, a Starkville Republican, confirmed to the Starkville Daily News that the stroke was “bigger than first thought,” and that Chism had been admitted to University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson on Tuesday.
House Speaker Phillip Gunn’s office said they were not aware of Chism’s health status as of Tuesday, after saying on Monday that they had been in touch with his family.
It was originally thought the legislator had a suffered a mild stroke and Roberson confirmed that Chism had been hospitalized at Baptist Memorial Hospital - Golden Triangle over the weekend.
“He had been acting like he didn’t feel well and his family made him go to the ER at Baptist,” Roberson said on Monday.
Chism, a native of Columbus, has served in the Legislature representing District 37 since 2000. He is also the co-owner of Columbus Insurance Services, Inc.
District 37 covers parts of Lowndes, Clay and Oktibbeha counties.
Chism chairs the House Insurance Committee, and is also a member of the following committees: Judiciary A, Judiciary En Banc, Local and Private Legislation and Public Utilities.