The wife of longtime Tallahatchie County District 2 Constable Clifton H. Bailey, who died Jan. 27, has been appointed to serve in her late husband's vacant position on an interim basis.
The Tallahatchie County Board of Supervisors on Monday voted to appoint Sharon Elaine Jackson-Bailey to fill the role until a special election can be held later this year. The special election will coincide with the date of the Nov. 5 general election for president and other offices.
Jackson-Bailey, who also continues to represent Education District 4 on the West Tallahatchie School District Board of Trustees, said Thursday, "I am so grateful and honored to be appointed as constable to carry out the legacy of my husband."
Asked about a possible run for District 2 constable in the Nov. 5 special election, Jackson-Bailey said she is undecided. The Education District 4 school board post also comes up for a vote in November, as the five-year term which she began in 2020 expires at year's end. The qualifying period for school board opens in August.
"At this time, I’m not sure what I’m going to do," she explained. "I’m just going [to] take on this [constable] role and see where this will lead me."
Tallahatchie County Circuit Clerk Daphane Neal said Friday she had received the Board of Supervisors' order for a special election and would be passing it along to the Tallahatchie County Election Commission.
Once election commissioners direct her office to place the District 2 constable race on the ballot for Nov. 5, candidate qualifying for the post may begin, Neal added.
While the opening of the qualifying period is pending, Neal said state law dictates the qualifying window will close on Sept. 6 at 5 p.m.
