NATCHEZ &045;&045; Gov. Haley Barbour has set for Aug. 3 a special election to fill the District 94 state House of Representatives seat vacated by Phillip West.

If a runoff election is required, it will be held Aug. 17.

West vacated the post on effective July 1, the day he was sworn in as Natchez’s mayor. The District 94 post includes parts of Adams, Claiborne and Jefferson counties.

Meanwhile a fourth candidate, Natchez resident Jacqueline Carter Sullivan, announced Wednesday she will seek the post.

Sullivan has been a Mississippi educator for 15 years as well as a small business owner.

She said that being appointed for two terms to the Mississippi Board of Barber Examiners has given her a better understanding of the Legislature and the political process in general.

That, she said, will serve her well in the District 94 representative’s seat.

&uot;I have a love for the city of Natchez and would like to do everything in my power to make the quality of life better for everyone who lives here, as well as the entire district,&uot; Sullivan said.

Sullivan said her biggest priorities would be to help bring jobs to the state and to fund education, including teacher pay raises, well.

Teacher salaries in the State of Mississippi rank as some of the lowest in the nation, she said.

On the economic development side, college graduates now have to move elsewhere due to a lack of jobs, she said.

&uot;(They) would like to find a job and remain here at home, but, may be forced to relocate to another state to acquire employment,&uot; Sullivan said.

Medicaid funding must be strengthened &045;&045; especially to help senior citizens, many of whom are on fixed incomes, she said.

&uot;I’m an average citizen, with concerns like most citizens who reside in District 94, and others throughout the State of Mississippi,&uot; Sullivan said.

&uot;If elected, I will be committed, dedicated and present in the Legislature, to represent and serve the citizens of Adams, Jefferson and Claiborne counties.&uot;

Natchez Ward 2 Alderman James &uot;Rickey&uot; Gray, former state Sen. Robert Johnson and former county supervisor candidate Elmore Robinson have announced in recent days they also plan to run for the District 94 post.