Two Pearl River County residents Tavish Kelly and Tom Carter have submitted applications to run in the 4th Congressional District general election in June.

The MSGOP State Executive Committee will review the applications submitted by Kelly and Carter to certify them this week. The deadline to submit applications was March 1.

Kelly is a Gulf Coast native who currently lives in Picayune. He studied political science and math while at Mississippi State University. Kelly is also the co-owner of Kelly Firearms in Picayune.

He is the former chairman of Pearl River County Republican Party and stepped down to study congressional law at Ole Miss.

Kelly said he believes in smaller government and a freer United States.

He said he decided to run after comparing Senator Steven Palazzo’s voting records with that of former Congressman Gene Taylor.

Kelly said Palazzo’s record was not any different from Taylor’s and he wanted to step up and “represent the new conservative that has become part of the mainstream Republican Party.”

Carter is a native of Meridian, but currently resides in Carriere, He works for Science Application International Corporation, an information technology businesses that works with the defense industry.

Carter said he is grounded in deep morals and values and believes the 4th Congressional District deserves better than being told their congressman is “going to do one thing and then go to Washington and do another.”

“This is a job that I don’t need, but it’s a job that needs me,” Carter said.

He said he is not a conventional candidate, but thinks being a businessman and having and plan and strategy will help him.

“I know how to communicate, to articulate my position, and listen and serve my fellow man.” Carter said.