NATCHEZ — When the clock struck 5 p.m. in the Adams County Circuit Clerk’s Office qualifying ended for the 2009 Adams County Sheriff’s race.

“If they aren’t qualified by now, they’re not running,” clerk Eddie Walker said.

Eight candidates have qualified.

This year’s candidates are: Natchez Police investigator Danny Barber, former Adams County sheriff’s deputy and current Adams County Constable Ray Brown, former director of the Metro Narcotics Unit Cliff Cox, head of the NPD’s Criminal Investigations Department Sgt. Craig Godbold, Adams County Sheriff’s deputy Randy Freeman, Adams County Youth Court Administrator and former deputy Chuck Mayfield, former NPD officer Roosevelt Owens Jr. and wildlife and fisheries game warden Greg Wisner.

To have qualified for the race the candidates must have submitted a petition of at least 50 signatures from registered Adams County voters and submitted a letter of intent to run in the race.

Now that the qualification period has closed Walker and his staff will begin to verify that at least 50 signers of each petition are active voters and registered to vote in Adams County.

“After that we just need to print the ballots,” Walker said.

This year’s special election was prompted by the March death of former Adams County Sheriff Ronny Brown.

Brown’s wife, Angie Brown, has served as interim sheriff since her husband’s death.