The special election to fill the state District 88 House of Representatives seat is now less than two weeks away. Jason Dykes, Robin Robinson and Michael Walker are running for the position that came open when Ramona Blackledge resigned.
Absentee voting is now taking place in Laurel and Ellisville on Monday - Friday from 8:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. and on Saturday, June 13 and Saturday, June 20 from 8:00 a.m. until noon.
Circuit Court Clerk Concetta Brooks said that the Jones County precincts that will be open for voting for the special election on June 23 include Big Creek, Centerville, Gitano, Hebron, Soso, Glade, Myrick, Powers, Ovett, Rustin, Tuckers Crossing, Antioch, Landrum, Blackwell, Johnson, Moselle, Rainey, Sand Hill, Shelton, Union and Currie.
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.
Brooks estimates that the cost for Jones County to host the special election will be around $10,000.
Polls will be open on June 23 from 7:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m.