JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV) – A special election date has been set to fill Jackson’s Ward 2 City Council seat. This comes after former Councilwoman Angelique Lee resigned before pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit bribery.
The City Council voted on Monday, August 19 to set the special election for Tuesday, October 1. If necessary, a runoff election will be held on October 22.
The qualifying period for candidates will begin at 8:00 a.m. on Tuesday, August 20. The deadline will be at 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, September 11.
The Department of Municipal Clerk will be open for voter registration from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. August 26 to August 30. The office will also be open from 8 a.m. to noon on Saturday, August 31. Registration is required for voters to be eligible for the special election. The deadline for registration is noon Saturday, August 31.
To accommodate the absentee voting process, the office will be open from 8:00 a.m. to noon on Saturday, September 21 and from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, September 28. The last day to vote by absentee ballot is Saturday, September 28 at noon.
According to court documents, Lee accepted cash, deposits and other gifts for her future votes in favor of two unidentified individuals’ proposed real estate development project in the City of Jackson. Both individuals were confidential human sources employed by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
The documents showed that Lee accepted $19,000 from February 2024 to March 2024.
According to the court documents, Lee will be ordered to forfeit several items, including more than $13,000 in U.S. currency, a pair of Valentino wedge sandals, a Christian Louboutin tote bag, and a pair of Christian Louboutin sandals.
Investigators said the FBI raided Lee’s home in May 2024 and found all of the items, except a sweatshirt and perfume. The Associated Press reported the seizure occurred on the same day agents raided the offices of Hinds County District Attorney Jody Owens and the downtown cigar shop that he owns.
Lee appeared in federal court in Jackson on Wednesday, August 14. During her first court appearance, Lee waived her right to an indictment by a grand jury. She received a $10,000 bond. Lee appeared in federal court again later that afternoon, and she pled guilty to conspiracy to commit bribery. She is expected to be sentenced at 10:00 a.m. on November 13, 2024.
Lee was elected to the Ward 2 seat during a special election in 2020. The seat was previously held by former City Councilman Melvin Priester, Jr., who resigned that year.