Vicksburg’s longest-tenured representative in the Mississippi Legislature will make a run for a fifth term.

Rep. George Flaggs, D-Vicksburg, filed paperwork Friday with the state party to seek the Democratic nomination to House District 55, which covers central and north Vicksburg.

&#8220I am deeply honored that the people of Vicksburg and Warren County have allowed me to represent them in Jackson,” Flaggs said in a statement. &#8220I pledge to all of you that I will always strive to do what is best for my district and all the citizens of this great state.”

Flaggs, 53, chairman of the House Juvenile Justice Committee, was first elected to the state House of Representatives in 1987 and is a Warren County Youth Court counselor. He also sits on the Appropriations, Joint Legislative Budget, Gaming, Hurricane Recovery, Investigate State Offices, Public Health & Human Services and Medicaid committees.

Prior to his election to the seat, Flaggs was on the Vicksburg Planning Commission and Zoning Board of Appeals

His most recent term in office has been particularly marked with issues of education and criminal justice. The Juvenile Justice Reform Act of 2006 set up programs at the local level to offer counseling and other help to juvenile offenders before they enter the Youth Court system. It also set forth minimum standards for juvenile detention centers and education opportunities for offenders younger than 18.

In effect, the law spread statewide some of the same procedures done in Warren County for years, which built one of the first juvenile detention centers in the state.

Flaggs also served on a committee late last year that put together recommendations on a $50 million civil rights museum to be built in Mississippi. Lawmakers in the House this week overwhelmingly approved building the museum, with a site still undetermined. It now goes to the Senate.

Earlier this month, Vicksburg’s other representative in the lower chamber, Rep. Chester Masterson, R-Vicksburg, qualified for re-election. Masterson represents south Vicksburg and all of Issaquena and Sharkey counties.

Both Masterson and Flaggs were unopposed in general election voting in 2003, but Masterson again faces a primary challenge Aug. 7 from local businessman Alex Monsour.

State senator Mike Chaney, R-Vicksburg, will stand for re-election to his seat in the upper chamber. Chaney represents Warren and Issaquena counties, as well as southwestern Yazoo County.

Local offices that will be on the ballot along with statewide offices include district attorney, sheriff, tax assessor, tax collector, county prosecutor, justice court judges and constables. All candidates must file by March 1.

All five Warren County supervisors will face re-election as well. So far, three of the five-member board have drawn opponents.

The general election is Nov. 6.