NATCHEZ — On the first day of the qualifying period for the 2019 state and local elections, 15 people announced they are running for office in Adams County, all as Democrats.

Qualification ends at 5 p.m. on March 5. So far, candidates have qualified for county supervisors, constables, justice court judge, circuit and chancery clerks and Adams County sheriff.

Incumbent Adams County supervisors Mike Lazarus from District 1; Angela Gibson Hutchins from District 3 and  James “Rickey” Gray from District 4  all qualified for re-election Wednesday.  County resident James H. Berry Jr. qualified to run in District 5. Incumbents David Carter from District 2 and Calvin Butler from District 5 say they plan to qualify to run for re-election.

Adams County Sheriff Travis Patten also qualified for re-election. Others who qualified to run against Patten are Tom Grennell, the brother of Natchez Mayor Darryl Grennell and an investigator for the District Attorney’s office, and Jerry Ford, a longtime Natchez police officer.

Willie B. Jones and Randy Freeman both qualified to run for Northern District and Southern District constables respectively.

Audrey B. Minor and Lee Ford qualified for the Northern District and Southern District Justice Court Judges’ seats respectively.

Adams County Circuit Clerk Eddie Walker is not seeking re-election this year and his seat is being contested for by Natchez resident and bankruptcy consultant Jennifer “Lady J.” Minor Johnson; Daye Dearing, the daughter of Sen. Bob Dearing and Eva “E.J.” Givens, the current chief deputy clerk in the circuit clerk’s office.

Brandi B. Lewis qualified for re-election as Adams County Chancery Clerk.