By Jason C. Mattox

With just under one month before qualifying deadline, there is no change to the field of candidates for the upcoming November 2 elections.

The North Panola and South Panola School District Boards of Trustees will elect representatives for position three on their respective boards. Neither position has a qualifier at this time.

In North Panola School District, the position three seat is currently held by Tracy Thompson. The position three seat is held by Sandra Darby in South Panola School District.

In order to qualify, candidates must turn in 50 signatures of qualified electors in their represented area on or before the qualifying deadline September 3.

In the race for Panola County Sheriff, Noel Aldridge Jr., Dennis Darby, Mike Darby, Phillip Herron, Richard McCarty and Interim Sheriff Otis Griffin will face off for the right to complete the unexpired term of the  late Sheriff Hugh “Shot” Bright.

Voters will also go to the polls for the first time in nearly 40 years to cast a ballot for a new Justice Court Judge in District 1, the northern court district of Panola County.

Three candidates have qualified to fill the unexpired term of the late Judge James W. Appleton.

Those candidates are Billy R. Brown of Como and Hal C. Johnson and Mike Wilson, both of Sardis.

Also on the November ballot will be a pair of circuit court judge positions.

Assistant District Attorneys Rhonda Amis and Smith Murphy, both of Batesville, Batesville attorney Adam Pittman, and Charleston Attorney William Sanders are in the running to fill the seat vacated by a retiring Andrew Baker.

Former District Attorney Gerald W. Chatham Sr. will face Tunica attorney Stan Little and Water Valley attorney David Burns for the right to be the first judge to represent the newly created Place 4 position in the 17th Judicial District.

The last day to register to vote in the upcoming election is October 2. The Circuit Clerk’s office will be open from 8 a.m. to noon that Saturday for last minute registration.

For information on voter registration and absentee voting, contact the Panola County Circuit Clerks Office in Sardis at 662-487-2073 or in Batesville, 662-563-6210.