NATCHEZ — The ball has dropped on 2019, which is a state and local election year and several people have already announced their intentions to be candidates for various offices that will be on the ballot even though the official qualifying period opens today.

People interested in running in any of the county races on ballots this year have until 5 p.m. March 1 to file their applications and pay fees with the circuit clerk’s offices in their respective counties.

Party primaries will be Aug. 6 and any necessary runoffs will be Aug. 27.

The general election will be Nov. 5 and any necessary runoffs will be Nov. 26.

Countywide offices up for grabs statewide will be sheriffs, district attorneys, chancery clerks, circuit clerks, tax assessors, tax collectors, coroners, county attorneys, surveyors, supervisors, justice court judges and constables.

Statewide offices that will be up for grabs this year include governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, attorney general, state auditor, state treasurer, commissioner of insurance, commissioner of agriculture and commerce, state senators, state representatives, transportation commissioners and public service commissioners.

Below is a look at some of the offices that will be on Adams County ballots this year and people who have publicly announced their intentions to run for offices.

Adams County Sheriff

• Incumbent sheriff Travis Patten has announced his intention to run for re-election to the office.
• Long-time Natchez police officer Jerry Ford.
• Thom Grennell, brother of Natchez Mayor Darryl Grennell, and an investigator for the District Attorney’s office.
• First-term county constable Adam Kirk, who has a military background and has worked in law enforcement in our community for years.

Adams County Circuit Clerk

Adams County Circuit Clerk Eddie Walker recently announced he is retiring after this year so the field for his position is expected to be full.

Statewide candidates

Incumbent Mississippi District 97 Rep. Sam C. Mims V, R-McComb, has announced his bid for re-election to serve the district made up of portions of Adams, Amite, Franklin and Pike counties.

The Natchez Democrat will publish candidate announcements inside on Wednesdays and Sundays as space is available.

Candidates can send announcements with a head and shoulders picture of themselves to newsroom@natchezdemocrat.com or send them via U.S. Postal Service to The Natchez Democrat, Attn. Editor, P.O. Box 1447, Natchez, MS 39121-1447.

Or, candidates may bring written announcements and pictures to The Natchez Democrat office, 503 N. Canal St., Natchez, during regular business hours.

For more information, call 601-445-3540.