Chiaradio Honors Late Supervisor Obbie Riley at Neshoba County Black Excellence Ball

October 29, 2026 Chiaradio Honors Late Supervisor Obbie Riley at Neshoba County Black Excellence Ball PHILADELPHIA, MS — Sometimes the best advice a mentor can give is no advice at all. That was one of the lessons Democratic congressional nominee Michael A. Chiaradio shared Saturday evening as he remembered his friend, the late Neshoba County Supervisor Obbie Riley, at the Neshoba County Democratic Party’s Black Excellence Ball. Riley passed away in September, but his influence remains deeply impactful for Chiaradio. Throughout his campaign, Chiaradio would call Riley for advice. Sometimes Riley offered guidance. But other times, he simply said, “You need to do what you think is best, son.” For Chiaradio, those words carried more weight than any specific recommendation because Riley knew the importance of the decisions being made. And he trusted Chiaradio to make them. But there was another side of Obbie Riley that Chiaradio wanted the audience to remember. Shortly after voter identification became a major subject of political debate, the two men spoke in person about voting. Riley opposed efforts he believed would make voting more difficult. But he also pledged that no obstacle would take away his determination to cast a ballot. He told Chiaradio that if the government required another identification card, he would get it. If it would cost money, he would make the financial sacrifice. If his polling place moved, he would travel wherever he had to go. If he had to walk, he would walk. And if exercising his right to vote cost him his job, he was even prepared to face that consequence too. It was just a conversation between two friends. But Chiaradio never forgot it. At the Black Excellence Ball, he recalled that conversation as an example of the determination and conviction that defined Riley’s commitment to his community. Chiaradio also reflected on his campaign, which Riley had supported, including proposals to lower healthcare costs, invest in infrastructure, and strengthen public schools. He thanked the people of Neshoba County for helping build a campaign that expanded its organization across Mississippi’s Third Congressional District. Although his name appears on the campaign, Chiaradio emphasized that the work belongs to everyone who helped make it possible. But it was Riley’s memory that made the evening special. Chiaradio remembered a man who understood the sacrifices earlier generations had made for the right to vote and who was determined not to surrender that right himself. Riley’s legacy is an example of public service that deserves to endure. Chiaradio thanked the Neshoba County Democratic Party for hosting the Black Excellence Ball and for the opportunity to honor his late friend and mentor. He also encouraged everyone to honor that legacy by turning out to vote with pride on November 3rd, reminding the audience of his campaign slogan: We CAN Win! To support Michael A. Chiaradio’s campaign for Congress, please visit: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/michael-a-chiaradio

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