By Rupert Howell

Qualifying deadline for candidates interested in the upcoming school trustee elections for Post Two in South Panola and Post One in North Panola is Friday, September 5 at 5 p.m., according to the Panola County Circuit Clerk’s office.

Candidates must present a petition signed by not less than 50 qualified electors of that district.

Incumbent South Panola Trustee Lygunnah Bean has qualified for re-election to the South Panola position, according to the Circuit Clerk’s office, but no candidates have yet filed qualifying papers in North Panola.

Deputy Clerk Ann Rippee, who works in the Sardis office, said Tuesday that qualifying papers have been obtained but not returned for that position. No one had qualified when last checked at press time Thursday.

Trustee Deborah Armstrong-Tucker is the incumbent for the North Panola position that is up for election.

School board candidates are non-partisan, so no party primary is needed, causing the qualifying period for those offices to be different from others. The names will appear on the November General Election ballot unless there is only one candidate to qualify for a position and Panola Election Commissioners determine that there is no need to print the name on the ballot.

Candidates must be bona fide residents and qualified electors of the trustee district in which the election is sought. Each school district is divided into five trustee districts. Terms are five years with one position becoming vacant each year.

North Panola District has recently been removed from conservatorship and new trustees elected last year. Those trustee positions will become vacant in the year corresponding with their district number.