Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves has issued a Writ of Election that sets the date for a special election to replace Ramona Q. Blackledge, who resigned the House District 88 seat on January 31. Voters will return to the polls on Tuesday, April 21 to fill the vacancy created by Blackledge’s resignation. If a run-off election is needed, it will be held Tuesday, May 12. The qualifying deadline for the special election is March 2.
Voters already know at least one candidate who will be on the ballot – Laurel resident Robin Robinson. That’s according to an announcement on her Facebook page on Feb. 1.
Blackledge resigned from her House seat on Tuesday, Jan. 28 – and it became effective Friday, Jan. 31 – after Gunn reportedly took the stance that Blackledge and three other freshman lawmakers will in essence be “double-dipping” if they are allowed to continue in their elected offices with full pay and also receive the retirement benefits they earned while working for the state in other jobs over the years.
Jones County Circuit Court Clerk Concetta Brooks estimates that the cost for Jones County to host the special election will be around $10,000.
Blackledge worked for 40 years for Jones County, with much of her time being as the tax assessor-collector of the county.