A special election in Education District 4 has drawn one suitor, Tallahatchie County Circuit Clerk Daphane Neal said Tuesday.
Sharon Elaine Bailey, 59, of 156 Main St., Webb, filed a Qualifying Statement of Intent to seek the seat on the West Tallahatchie School District Board of Trustees. The race will appear on ballots of ED4 residents on Nov. 4.
Bailey previously held the school board position for a five-year term that began in January 2020 and ended at the close of 2024.
She had filed qualifying papers last year to seek the office during a regularly scheduled election last fall. However, the Tallahatchie County Election Commission did not certify her as a candidate for the position, citing state law that bars a person from appearing on the ballot twice, for two different offices, in the same election.
Bailey also had qualified for a fall 2024 special election for District 2 constable, which she had held on an appointed interim basis since the January 2024 death of her husband, longtime 2nd District Constable Clifton Bailey.
That is the office for which election commissioners certified her candidacy.
In the end, no one else filed qualifying papers for the Education District 4 election last fall, leading to this year’s special election for the position.
The qualifying deadline for the special election, as well as two other regularly scheduled school board elections — in Education District 5 and Education District 10 — is 5 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 21.
Education District 5 represents a seat on the West Tallahatchie school board now held by Cora Hooper, and Education District 10, a post on the East Tallahatchie board occupied by Bryant Watson.
As of Tuesday, Neal said no one had filed qualifying papers for the ED5 and ED10 seats, although several people had requested qualifying papers and petition forms.
Members of the East and West Tallahatchie school dis- tricts’ five-member boards of trustees serve staggered five-year terms, with one seat in each district coming up for election every fall.
According to Mississippi State University Extension, school boards have authority to regulate school district affairs, property and finances that are not subject to state law. They are responsible for curriculum, personnel, buildings and district policies.
There is no qualifying fee for school board, but candidates must file a Qualifying Statement of Intent and submit a petition with the signatures of 50 registered voters within their education district.
Forms are available from the circuit clerk’s offices in Charleston (call 662-647-8758 for details) and Sumner (call 662-375-8515).
