By John Howell Sr.

Willie T. Odom Jr. and Melissa Meek-Phelps have joined the race for Panola County circuit clerk.

Odom and Meek-Phelps qualified this week to run  in the August 2 Democratic Primary Election. They join Craig Sheley and Karen Waldo Brown in the race. Incumbent Circuit Clerk Joe Reid said he has not decided about seeking re-election.

Sheley is also running as a Democrat; Brown is a candidate in the Republican Primary, also held August 2.

Newly qualified candidates for district offices include Albert Perkins, running for constable in District Two; Cole Flint, seeking the office of District Five supervisor and Eric “Buck” Harris, who seeks re-election as District One Constable. All three are Democrats.

Incumbent District Two Supervisor Vernice Black-Avant has also qualified to seek re-election in the Democratic Primary.

Perkins is seeking the constable office currently held by Raye Hawkins, also a Democrat, who qualified for re-election earlier this month.

Cole Flint will challenge incumbent District Five Supervisor Bubba Waldrup, who also qualified earlier this month to seek re-election in the Democratic Primary.

Panola County Chancery Clerk Jim Pitcock has qualified to seek re-election, but this time as an independent candidate. He is unopposed as is Tax Assessor-Collector David Garner, who is seeking re-election as a Democrat.

Jimmy McCloud remains the only candidate who has qualified to run for Panola County Sheriff.

Incumbent Gracie Grant-Gulledge has qualified as a Democrat to seek re-election as Panola County coroner. County Attorney C. Gaines Baker has also qualified to seek re-election in the Democratic Primary. Neither Grant-Gulledge nor Baker presently face a challenger

District One Supervisor James Birge has qualified for re-election. He is also unopposed at present.

Donnie Shaw has qualified to challenge incumbent District Three Supervisor Gary Thompson in the Democratic Primary.

Incumbent District Four Supervisor Kelly Morris faces challenges from Richard Hubbard and Jarrell Mills in the Democratic Primary.

Incumbent Justice Court Judges Mike Wilson and Willie E. “Bill Joiner have qualified for re-election in Court Districts One and Two, respectively. Neither candidate has yet drawn opposition.

Party primary runoff elections, if required, will be August 23. Party nominees will face each other in the November 8 General Election.