A Republican state lawmaker says he will resign his legislative seat to become city manager in coastal D’Iberville.

Rep. Michael Janus of Biloxi resigned from the Mississippi House at about 7:59 a.m. Monday — one minute before beginning his new job.

Republican Gov. Haley Barbour will set a special election to fill Janus’ seat in House District 117, which covers parts of western Biloxi and eastern Gulfport.

Janus has held the seat since January 1996. The 43-year-old has more than two years left in his current four-year term. He has run unsuccessfully for mayor of Biloxi.

State law prohibits Janus from being city manager and state representative at the same time.