Local businessman Scott Hinson has qualified to run for the Effingham County chief magistrate seat and local attorney Richard Rafter has qualified to run for probate court judge.

While incumbent Troy Alford had yet to submit his qualifying papers to the Effingham County elections board as of Wednesday afternoon, Talbert Edenfield of Guyton had qualified for the board of education District 2 seat currently held by Alford.

Two other board seats are up for election this fall. Incumbent Lamar Allen qualified on Monday for his District 3 seat and Vickie Decker qualified on Monday for the District 5 seat being vacated by Vera Jones.

Rafter will face Beth Rahn Mosley and Judy Suhor in the Nov. 4 general election for the probate judge position. Longtime probate court judge Frances Seckinger retired this spring and Suhor, the chief clerk, has been running the office in her stead.

Hinson is the second person to qualify for the magistrate seat. Richard Solomon Smith qualified on Monday for the position. Chief magistrate Preston Exley is retiring and has decided not to seek re-election.

School board, probate and magistrate elections are non-partisan and will be decided upon during the Nov. 4 general election. Qualifying ends Friday.