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NATCHEZ — The city set July 15 as the date for a special election to choose a new Natchez municipal judge. However, it seems that an election will not be necessary.

The deadline for qualifying to run as municipal judge was Friday at 5 p.m. Only one candidate, Terrence Hunter, submitted a qualifying statement and signatures.

City Clerk Megan McKenzie said Hunter’s signatures and application have been verified.

Hunter was appointed by the Mayor and Board of Aldermen as interim municipal judge on May 2 following the resignation of Christina Daugherty. Daugherty resigned to accept a job as assistant district attorney in Sixth Circuit District Attorney Tim Cotton’s office.

Natchez Mayor Dan Gibson said the city will not need a special election since Hunter was the only qualifying candidate.

“Terrence Hunter is unopposed in his election to be our permanent municipal judge. Looks like we will not have to hold a special election. Our city clerk has cited for us the reference code section 23-15-857 and verified with (Office of State Auditor) technical assistance that we cannot cancel the special election until we are 19 days out from the election, which is June 26,” Gibson said. “If 19 days before the date of the election only one person shall have qualified as a candidate, the governing authority, or remainder of the governing authority, shall dispense with the election and appoint that one candidate in lieu of an election.”

McKenzie said she expects the Board of Aldermen to call a special meeting on June 26 to cancel the July 15 election.