State Sen. Bill Stone, D-Holly Springs

Another legislator will be stepping down soon.

Sen. Bill Stone, a Democrat from Holly Springs, will give up his seat to run his hometown’s municipally owned utility, Bobby Harrison reported for the Daily Journal.

“I have experience running a utility,” he told Harrison. “I think I can make a difference” as manger of the Holly Springs Utility Department.”

A former mayor of Ashland, Stone was elected to the Senate in 2008. In 2916, Stone was elected minority leader.

Stone’s departure follows resignations of four other lawmakers, all in the House.

Gov. Phil Bryant will have to call a special election to fill Stone’s seat.

Ryan L. Nave, a native of University City, Mo., served as Mississippi Today's editor-in-chief from May 2018 until April 2020. Ryan began his career with Mississippi Today February 2016 as an original member of the editorial team. He became news editor August 2016. Ryan has a bachelor’s in political science from the University of Missouri-Columbia and has worked for Illinois Times and served as news editor for the Jackson Free Press.