The 2019 election year is underway and 54 candidates have thrown their hats into the ring for 15 open Adams County positions.

Among the 15 races on ballots for the Aug. 6 primaries and Nov. 5 general elections will be races for Adams County Circuit Clerk, Adams County Tax Assessor and Adams County Tax Collector, which are all being vacated by incumbents this year.

Local election watchers said those three wide open races have likely spurred the large field of candidates for this year’s countywide elections.

Other county races for Adams County Sheriff and a few Adams County Supervisor seats also garnered several candidates and all but two of the races that will be on the ballots are challenged.

We are encouraged by the strong number of candidates who are willing to put themselves up for such positions of leadership in our community.

We also anticipate the large field of candidates will spark a robust turnout at the polls for all the elections later this year.

Retiring Adams County Circuit Clerk Eddie Walker said he anticipates perhaps 50% of the registered voters will turn out in the elections, but he would prefer to have 90% to 95% voter turn out.

We agree.

We also want voters to be educated on the candidates and the issues, so beginning May 19, The Natchez Democrat will begin publishing highlights of each countywide race with candidates providing answers to questions about their candidacies and what they would like to accomplish if they are elected.

We encourage readers to pay attention to those stories, so you can make informed decisions at the polls.