One day after Clay County Prosecutor Angela Turner Lairy was elected to fill the 16th District Senate seat left open by the death of her father, the late Sen. Bennie Turner, another Clay County resident is hoping he, too, can continue a family legacy.
Carl Gibbs announced Wednesday he will be qualifying to run for the 36th District House seat, a position his father, David Gibbs, held for more than 20 years. David Gibbs died Sunday at age 76. The 36th House District includes portions of Clay, Lowndes and Monroe counties. David Gibbs was first elected in 1992 to the seat vacated by Scott Ross, who is now mayor of West Point.
Services for David Gibbs will be held Saturday at 11 a.m. at Third Mount Olive Missionary Baptist Church in West Point.
“First of all, I want to thank all of the voters of District 36 who have supported my father for more than 20 years,” said Carl Gibbs, 43. “I would like to continue his legacy. I will do my best to carry on the tradition of working for the people, especially with the economy and education. I will work hard for job creation in the District 36.”
Carl Gibbs is a graduate of West Point High School and Alcorn State University. He is currently employed by the US Department of Defense as a police officer at Columbus Air Force Base. He and his wife, Sonya, have one child, Carl David.
The date of a special election has not be set by Gov. Phil Bryant.
Jeff Clark was previously a reporter for The Dispatch.
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