NATCHEZ — In the opening shot of the 2015 election cycle, two candidates have stepped forward to challenge Sheriff Chuck Mayfield’s re-election and a sitting Natchez city alderman announced his intention to run for county office Monday.

Qualifying for elections technically began Jan. 1, but because of the New Year holiday and the weekend following it, Monday was the first day candidates could officially enter their respective races.

Qualifying ends at 5 p.m. Feb. 27.

Races on Adams County’s local ballot include the seats for the board of supervisors, circuit and chancery clerk, sheriff, justice court judges, coroner, tax assessor, tax collector, constables and county attorney.

Those who qualified to run Monday include:

• For sheriff, Randy Freeman (D) and Travis Lamont Patten (D). Mayfield did not qualify Monday but has previously stated his intentions to run for re-election.

• For chancery clerk, Joe Murray

• For circuit clerk, Edward C. “Eddie” Walker

• For district 1 supervisor, Charles Michael “Mike” Lazarus (D)

• For district 3 supervisor, Angela Hutchins (D) and Wilbert Whittley (D)

• For district 4 supervisor, James “Ricky” Gray

• For district 5 supervisor, Calvin Butler

• For coroner, Jeremy Fakes (D) and James Lee (D)

• For tax collector, Peter T. Burns Jr.

• For tax assessor, Reynolds Atkins Sr.

• For southern district constable, Bo Stevens (D)

• For county prosecuting attorney, Barret Martin (D)

• For justice court judge, Charles L. “Charlie” Vess (non-partisan)

Two long-time local politicians, Board of Supervisors President and District 4 Supervisor Darryl Grennell and Chancery Clerk Tommy O’Beirne, have announced they will not seek re-election.

All candidates vying for office must be a qualified elector in the county prior to qualifying.

Other qualifications specific to the office include:

• Sheriff candidates “shall not be a defaulter to the state or any county or municipality…or to the United States.”

• County attorney candidates “(must) possess all the qualifications of other county officers… and shall be a regular licensed and practicing lawyer.”

• Coroner candidates must have a high school diploma or its equivalent and be at least 21.

• County supervisor candidates must live in the district they seek to represent.

• Justice court judges are required to have been residents of the county for two years and have a high school diploma or its equivalent, unless they served as a justice of the peace prior to January 1, 1976.

For a full candidate qualifying guide from the Mississippi Secretary of State’s office, go to 1.usa.gov/1HBbdMg.

The primary election will be Aug. 4, with primary runoffs — if needed — following Aug. 25 and a general election Nov. 3 that will include statewide offices on the ballot.