JACKSON, Miss. (AP) - A special election in November will fill one of two Mississippi House seats left vacant by a resignation.
Gov. Tate Reeves announced Friday that he has set Nov. 3 as the date for the race in House District 87 in Forrest and Lamar counties. That’s the same day as the general election for president and other federal offices. If a runoff is needed for the special election, it will be Nov. 24.
Republican Rep. Billy Andrews of Purvis resigned March 31 because he was not able to collect his state government pension while serving in the state House.
Andrews is a retired Lamar County judge. He said he ran for the House last year based on the belief that he could serve for less than full legislative pay and still receive his pension. That was based on a legal opinion issued in 2018 by then-Attorney General Jim Hood. House Speaker Philip Gunn said that was an incorrect interpretation of state law.
Andrews was the second freshman House member to step down for this reason since the four-year term started in January. Republican Rep. Ramona Blackledge of Laurel resigned Jan. 31, less than a month after the start of the four-year term. She was serving in District 88 in parts of Jasper and Jones counties. Three candidates are running in the June 23 special election to fill that seat. If a runoff is needed, it will be July 14.
In Mississippi special elections, candidates run without party labels on the ballot but they often tell voters their party affiliation.
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