Nine candidates will be on the ballot in the race for Warren County Justice Court Judge in the Central District, one of five contests voters will decide Nov. 2.

Among those challenging incumbent judge and funeral director James E. Jefferson Jr. are two former candidates for the job, a former public officeholder, an incarcerated person and four political newcomers.

Vicksburg Police Sgt. Beverly Prentiss and retired police Lt. Dora Smith are vying for the spot again, both having run in 2007. Both filed paperwork on Friday, the deadline. Rudolph Walker, former constable for the central Vicksburg district, is also in the race. Lester R. Smith, in the Warren County Jail on sexual battery and felony escape charges, is also a candidate.

Making their first runs for office in the race are Henry Phillips Jr., a former U.S. Navy officer; Jim Hankins Jr., an apartment manager; Audrey Jones Jackson, an operations manager for NRoute; and LeVern W. Powell, an administrator at Cedars Head Start.

The general election ballot is headlined by the congressional race in Mississippi’s 2nd District between Democrat U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson and Republican challenger Bill Marcy. Candidates for Vicksburg Warren School District trustees in districts 1 and 5 also will be on the ballot. Candidates for school board may qualify through Friday, Oct. 1. So far, incumbent District 1 Trustee Jerry Boland has qualified. One judicial race on the ballot is for the state Court of Appeals, pitting incumbent Tyree Irving versus Vicksburg attorney Ceola James.

Justice court judges hear small-claim cases of up to 3,500 misdemeanor criminal cases and any traffic offenses occurring outside city limits. They also conduct bond hearings and preliminary hearings in felony criminal cases, and have the authority to issue search warrants. Justice court judges are not required to possess a law degree, but they must complete state training programs.