MONTICELLO — Four candidates have already qualified for theLawrence County tax assessor/collector special election and manymore are expected to, according to a county official.

“Four petitions are still out,” said Circuit Clerk CindyStokes.

The race for tax assessor, a position held for more than twodecades by Annette Applewhite, looks to be a good one, Stokessaid.

Interested candidates have until 5 p.m. Sept. 6 to qualify, butmany are not waiting, she said.

Kenneth R. Allen of Jayess and Jeff Peterson, Donna PippinSandifer and Sherry Hyde-Thames, all of Monticello, havequalified.

Peterson was appointed July 1 as interim tax assessor by theboard of supervisors.

Four other petitions have been picked up, and Stokes said sheexpects them to be returned soon.

To qualify, candidates need only be a resident and registeredvoter of the county, Stokes said. They must also turn in a petitionwith the signatures of 50 county registered voters.

Stokes urged interested candidates not to wait until the lastminute on Sept. 6 to turn in their petitions because the signaturesmust be verified by the 5 p.m. deadline.

“I think I’ll be getting petitions back until September,” Stokessaid, predicting a large number of candidates.

Another county race to appear on the Nov. 5 ballot is for schoolboard member, district 5. Mitchell Barnes is the incumbent.

Qualifications for that race, however, do not begin until Aug.7.

The Sept. 6 qualifying deadline and office requirements are thesame as the tax assessor race.

Congressional and judicial offices will also be decided on theNov. 5 ballot. A run-off election, if necessary, will be held Nov.19.