Ramona Blackledge

Ramona Blackledge
Member of the Mississippi House of Representatives
from the 88th district
In office
January 7, 2020 – January 31, 2020
Preceded byGary Staples
Succeeded byRobin Robinson
Personal details
Born (1952-09-20) September 20, 1952
PartyRepublican
EducationMississippi State University[1]

Ramona Blackledge (born September 20, 1952) is an American Republican politician. She briefly served in the Mississippi House of Representatives, representing the 88th district. She resigned a month after being sworn in because she was prohibited from receiving retirement pay while serving in the state legislature.[2][3]

Career

Blackledge served as a tax assessor-collector for Jones County.[3] In August 2019, she defeated incumbent Gary Staples in a runoff Republican primary election for Mississippi House of Representatives District 88, and she won the general election that November.[4]

Resignation

Before Blackledge was elected, the Mississippi Public Employees Retirement System Board adopted a new regulation that would allow retired public employees to draw upon a portion of their state pensions while serving in the Mississippi Legislature. Four representatives elected to the state legislature in 2019, including Blackledge, expected to withdraw pensions while serving in accordance with this change. However, House Speaker Philip Gunn rejected the change and refused to allow the legislators to receive their pensions while serving in the House of Representatives and receiving a legislative salary. Blackledge resigned as the result of this decision.[2]

References

  1. ^ "Former State Rep. Ramona Blackledge". Legistorm.com. Retrieved 30 December 2025.
  2. ^ a b Harrison, Bobby. "Mississippi lawmaker says House speaker gave her no option but to resign". Mississippi Today. Retrieved 30 December 2025.
  3. ^ a b Harrison, Bobby. "Four freshmen lawmakers say speaker wants them to give up retirement pay or resign". Mississippi Today. Retrieved 30 December 2025.
  4. ^ "Ramona Blackledge". Ballotpedia. Retrieved 30 December 2025.
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