By Billy Davis

Retiring Mississippi state trooper Dennis Darby confirmed this week he is entering the Panola County sheriff’s race.

Darby, 54, said Thursday he has met with state officials to finalize his retirement from the Miss. Highway Patrol, effective May 1, to prepare to run. He has accrued 30 years as a trooper.

Darby has yet to pick up qualifying papers, “but I can confirm that I am running for sheriff,” he said.

The deadline to qualify is September 3, 60 days before Election Day on November 2.

Darby’s entry, when he qualifies, will add a sixth name to the list of sheriff’s candidates.

Other candidates include interim sheriff Otis Griffin and former county supervisor Mike Darby, who became the fifth candidate to qualify.

Phillip Herron jumped into the race early, on Christmas Eve last year, and was followed by Richard McCarty. William Hannah, a former Panola County jailer, has also qualified.

The sheriff’s election is a non-partisan election, meaning candidates’ names will be shown on the ballot without political affiliation.

A runoff will occur if candidates fail to garner 51 percent of the total votes cast.

The special election comes after the death last September of Sheriff Hugh “Shot” Bright. Griffin was serving as chief deputy when the Panola County Board of Supervisors appointed him interim sheriff.

The November 2 ballot will be a crowded one, including races for circuit and chancery judge seats, and a closely watched election for Mississippi’s 1st District congressional seat.