Candidates seeking two Lincoln County School Board seats up for grabs this year may begin qualifying this week, but only have until Sept. 7 to do so.

     District One and District Two seats will appear on the Nov. 6 ballot. One incumbent has announced plans not to run again and a contender for the open seat has already qualified.

     District Two’s current representative Stacey Newell said he doesn’t intend to run again when asked after Monday’s school board meeting. He declined to elaborate on his decision.

     Newell currently serves as secretary of the board.

     As of Thursday morning, one candidate had already qualified for District Two: Johnny L. Hart. Hart was out of town and could not be reached for comment.

     Qualifying began Wednesday.

     Hart previously served one term on the board. He was defeated in 2006 by Newell.

     Kay Coon, incumbent representative for District One, said she plans to seek re-election, though she hasn’t filed her qualifying papers.

     “Oh yes, I will run again,” Coon said after Monday’s board meeting.

     Coon has served on the board since 2003, when she was appointed and then won a special election to fill the remainder of her husband’s term upon his death.

     Board members serve six-year terms.

     District One includes students zoned for Enterprise Attendance Center, while District Two includes children attending Loyd Star Attendance Center and some students at Enterprise.

     To qualify, candidates must submit a petition to the circuit clerk’s office with 50 signatures from voters in the district the candidate intends to run in. All the necessary petitions and paperwork may be obtained at the clerk’s office.

     Other board members include Jack Case, of District Four, Ricky Welch, of District Three, and Michael Posey, of District Five. None face elections this year.