Dist. 54 Rep. Kevin Ford took the oath of office Monday to finish the unexpired term of Alex Monsour, who resigned his seat in the Legislature.

“I am honored that the people of District 54 have entrusted this position to me,” Ford said. “I am excited about the opportunity to work with other state leaders to improve our state.”

He said he has not received his committee assignments, adding they could be made when the session begins Jan. 2.

Ford defeated Dr. Randy Easterling in the Nov. 28 runoff for Monsour’s House seat, getting 1,434 votes to 959 for Easterling.  He also carried the precincts in Issaquena and Yazoo counties.

Ford finished first and Easterling second in a three-candidate primary race with Vicksburg contractor Joe Bonelli on Nov. 7.

Monsour, a Republican, resigned his seat in the Mississippi House July 5, about a month after defeating then-incumbent South Ward Alderman Willis Thompson in the June 6 municipal general elections.

His resignation came after a state Attorney General’s opinion said he could no longer serve as District 54 representative because under the city’s special charter the aldermen has administrative as well as legislative responsibilities.

Prior to winning the alderman’s seat, Monsour had served in the Legislature for 10 years.