Dr. Randy Easterling and Kevin Ford have filed qualifying papers for the special election to fill the unexpired term of Alex Monsour, who was elected South Ward alderman in June.

Easterling, a family practitioner and addiction medicine specialist, and Ford, owner of Ford Insurance Agency, were the only two potential candidates for the District 54 seat to have filed papers with the Secretary of State as of 5 p.m. Friday, according to the department’s website.

Their applications must be qualified by the state Election Commission to be on the Nov. 7 special election ballot. The election is a nonpartisan race. If needed, a runoff will be held Nov. 28.

To qualify for the election, a candidate must be a registered voter, a resident of the state for four years, be at least 21 years old and been a resident of the district for two years before the day of the election.

Monsour, a Republican, resigned his seat in the Mississippi House July 5, about a month after defeating then-incumbent South Ward Alderman Willis Thompson in the June 6 municipal general elections.

His resignation came after a state Attorney General’s opinion said he could no longer serve as District 54 representative because under the city’s special charter the aldermen had administrative as well as legislative responsibilities.

Prior to winning the alderman’s seat, he had served in the Legislature for 10 years.