MONTICELLO – As the qualifying deadline nears, there still areno contenders for one Lawrence County office.

There have been no qualifiers, including incumbent AllenThurman, for the District One school board seat, said CharlieLawrence, deputy circuit clerk.

“He’s picked up his papers,” she said of Thurman. “He justhasn’t brought them back yet. I’m sure he will.”

Two candidates have qualified in the last two weeks for thespecial election for the District Three school board seat vacatedwhen Sherry Thames won election as the county taxassessor/collector during party primaries in August.

Tony Thames, the tax assessor’s husband who was appointed by theboard of supervisors last year, and Kenneth Platt have qualifiedfor the office.

Other recent qualifiers include incumbent Maxie Boutwell forschool board District Two, and Tony Lambert and Tony Norwood havejoined the large cast campaigning for the constable Post Twoposition.

The constable race is also a special election. The office wasleft vacant when Claude Davis succumbed to a lengthy illnessearlier this year. He won the Post Two election during the primaryin August.

His son, Brad Davis, was appointed to replace him and hasqualified for the office.

Edward C. May, Steve Reid, David Tullos and Claude H. Wallacehave also qualified.

Claude Davis was elected Post Two constable when Tullos vacatedthe office during a bid for sheriff. He did not win the sheriff’selection and is attempting to reclaim his former office.

Tony Norwood placed second in the August primaries that sawClaude Davis elected, while Claude H. Wallace placed third in thesame race. Lambert is also a veteran of that campaign.

May and Reid were not members of the eight-candidate fieldcompeting for the office during the general election last year.

All five election commissioner offices are also on theballot.

Every incumbent seeking re-election has qualified with nochallengers. Incumbents are Martha Tynes, District One; LorraineSmith, District Three; June Grubbs, District Four; and LuejeanHarvey, District Five.

District Two incumbent Marilyn Daughdrill has chosen not to seekre-election. Lolly Schultz of West Monticello and Marie McWilliamsof Sontag have qualified to replace her.

The qualifying deadline for all county offices is Sept. 3 forthe Nov. 2 general election, which also includes the presidentialrace between Republican President Bush and Democrat Sen. JohnKerry.

“The deadline is quickly approaching, especially for those whostill need to pick up petitions,” said Circuit Clerk CindyStokes.

Citizens interested in qualifying for an office need only go tothe Circuit Clerk’s Office to pick up a petition, she said.Petitions for election commissioner and school board membersrequire 50 signatures from people registered in that district.Those qualifying for the constable office need only 15signatures.

Stokes and Lawrence said Boutwell’s qualifying petition forre-election is the only petition the clerk’s office is aware ofcirculating in the county.