Central District Transportation Commissioner Willie Simmons joined The Extra Mile podcast to talk about his career in public service, the importance of a rural transportation network, Central District projects and much more. 

• Show intro, introducing Central District Transportation Commissioner Willie Simmons - 00:27
• Commissioner Simmons background and why he ran for state senator and transportation commissioner - 01:13
• How Commissioner Simmons got interested in serving on the transportation committee in the state senate - 02:23
• On working with Commissioner Tom King and the late Commissioner Dick Hall in the state senate - 03:37
• Commissioner Simmons' interest in rural transportation needs - 04:35
• On MDOT's broad transportation network - 06:58
• Highlighting major projects in the Central District - 09:06
• On the success of the lottery and its funding for MDOT - 11:51
• Impact of quality infrastructure on economic growth and development - 14:22
• On being the first African American statewide elected official - 17:20
• On the best place to grab a bite to eat when out traveling on Mississippi highways - 21:10
• Show outro - 24:13