Yazoo County prosecutor Steven Waldrup submitted his letter of resignation this week after accepting a position in the state attorney general office.
Waldrup will leave his county post on April 18 to join the state office as an attorney general special assistant.
“This matter came to me as a surprise and while I am saddened that I have to tender my resignation, I hope the Yazoo County Board of Supervisors and those concerned understand that this opportunity was one that I could not pass on at this point in my life,” Waldrup wrote in his resignation letter.
The Yazoo County Board of Supervisors appointed local attorney Betsy Cotton to fill the vacancy effective April 19.
A special election will be held to fill the position of county prosecutor, with the qualifying deadline on Sept. 8. Yazoo County Circuit Clerk Robert Coleman said, as of press time, Cotton is the only qualifying candidate.
However, a special election will not be held if Cotton remains the only candidate.
“If there is only one candidate by the qualifying deadline, there is no need for a special election,” said Jay Barbour, board attorney.
