The coronavirus has now affected Mississippi politics. Governor Tate Reeves today issued an amended writ of election moving the special election to fill the District 88 House of Representatives seat from April 21 to June 23. If no candidate receives a majority of the votes, a run-off election will be held on July 14.
“On February 10, 2020, I issued a writ of election setting April 21, 2020, as the date on which an election was to be held to elect a state representative for District 88,” wrote the governor. “On March 14, 2020, I declared a state of emergency to exist in the state of Mississippi. The Mississippi Department of Health has advised me that due to health, safety and welfare of the circuit clerks and their staffs, poll workers, election commissioners, other office staff, and members of the public in polling places within District 88 and risk of possible transmission of COVID-19, the election scheduled for April 21, 2020, should be rescheduled.”
The qualifying deadline for the special election of March 2 remains unchanged.
Candidates vying for the District 88 position include Robin Robinson, Michael Walker and Jason Dykes.
Ramona Blackledge resigned from her House seat in late January after she and three other freshman lawmakers were informed that they would in essence be “double-dipping” if they were allowed to continue in their elected offices with full pay and also receive the PERS retirement benefits they earned while working for the state in other jobs over the years.
Blackledge worked for 40 years for Jones County, with much of her time being as the tax assessor-collector of the county.
Jones County Circuit Court Clerk Concetta Brooks estimates that the cost for Jones County to host the special election will be around $10,000.