(Editor’s note: This story has been edited. An earlier version incorrectly stated that William Pride ran in a 2009 special election for District Two supervisor as a Repubican.)

By Rita Howell

This week has brought two more candidates qualifying to run in county elections this year.

Sheriff Otis Griffin, elected in November to fill the unexpired term of the late Sheriff Hugh W. Bright, will seek a full term. He qualified for the August 2 Democratic Primary and faces opposition in the primary from Batesville Police Captain Jimmy McCloud.

Also qualifying this week for the Democratic Primary was Batesville businessman William Pride who seeks the District 2 Supervisor position now held by Vernice Avant, who qualifed earlier to run for re-election.

The list of Panola candidates who have qualified so far includes: for circuit clerk, Melissa Meek-Phelps, Willie Odom and Craig Sheley, Democrats; Karen Waldo Brown, Republican; for chancery clerk, incumbent Jim Pitcock, independent; for tax assessor-collector, incumbent David Garner, Democrat; for county coronor, incumbent Gracie Grant-Gullege, Democrat; for county attorney, incumbent C. Gaines Baker, Democrat; for district one supervisor, incumbent James Birge, Democrat; for district three supervisor, Donnie Shaw and the incumbent, Gary Thompson, both Democrats; for district four supervisor, incumbent Kelly Morris, Richard Hubbard and Jarrell Mills have all qualified as Democrats; for district five supervisor, incumbent Bubba Waldrup and Cole Flint have both qualified as Democrats.

In addition, for the district one constable post, Eric “Buck” Harris is seeking re-election as a Democrat; for the district two constable position, incumbent Raye Hawkins and Albert Perkins are both running as Democrats;

Incumbent Justice Court Judges Mike Wilson and Willie E. “Bill Joiner have qualified for re-election in Court Districts One and Two, respectively. Neither candidate has yet drawn opposition.

Party primary runoff elections, if required, will be August 23. Party nominees will face each other in the November 8 General Election.