Staff Report

Panola County Sheriff Dennis Darby, who qualified early this year for re-election as an Independent, drew competition Thursday afternoon when Mississippi Highway Patrolman Shane Phelps (D) made his candidacy for the county’s highest position official.

Sheriff Darby ran for the office after also retiring from the Highway Patrol. Phelps, the son of District 4 Supervisor Donald Phelps, had been rumored as a possible candidate but would not confirm his decision until Thursday. Phelps is also the husband of Circuit Clerk Melissa Meek-Phelps.

The following is a complete listing of candidates as of 2 p.m. Thursday, as provided by the Circuit Clerk office.

David Garner  (D) will run for re-election to his Tax Assessor/Collectors position.

Gaines Baker (D) is running for County Prosecutor as the incumbent.

Raye Hawkins (D) will again run for the position of Constable Post 2. He has a challenger in Maurice Market (I).

Adrian Kirkwood (I)  is seeking the position of Constable Post 1. Also running for Post 1 is Faye Pettis (D), who has held the office since Fall, 2017, when she was appointed to succeed the retiring Buck Harris by the Panola County Board of Supervisors on a 3-2 vote.

Melissa Meek-Phelps (D) will ask voters to return her to the Circuit Court Clerk’s post she currently holds.

James Birge (D) is the Supervisor in District 1, and wants to be re-elected.

Gracie Grant-Gulledge (I) is again seeking the position of county Coroner.

Charlie Baglan (D) is the incumbent for Justice Court Judge and has no challengers as of yet.

Oscar Barlow (D) is the longtime Mayor of Crenshaw, and has qualified to run for District 2 Supervisor. The incumbent,  Vernice Avant, has not returned papers, but told reporters she intends to seek re-election.

Cole Flint (D) will run for Supervisor of District 5 for another term.

Jim Pitcock (I) is the long serving Chancery Clerk and is running for re-election.

John Thomas (D) is the incumbent in District 3 for Supervisor and is running again.

Chad Weaver (D) wants to be elected to the Board of Supervisors from District 4. Also in that race is Mike Woods (R,). Incumbent Donald Phelps has not qualified for the seat, and reports say he has decided to not seek re-election.