Five candidates are vying to represent public schools and community/junior colleges on the 10-member board of trustees for the Public Employees’ Retirement System of Mississippi.

Voting will open Jan. 11, when ballots and information are mailed.

Active members may cast votes through Feb. 11 for incumbent Edward Lee Childress, Corinth Public School District superintendent; Johnny Downs, Lamar County School District assistant superintendent; DeWitt “Bo” Hynes, Rankin County School District director of human resources; Michael Thomas, Jackson Public Schools deputy superintendent; and Joe H. Welch, Simpson County School District superintendent.

The winner will serve a six-year term beginning May 1. The board is comprised of the state treasurer, a gubernatorial appointee, two retirees, two state employees and one representative each of public schools and community/junior colleges, institutions of higher learning, counties and municipalities.