Jan Whatley has announced her candidacy for Warren County Election Commission in District 1.

Whatley, 74, is challenging incumbent Petesy Smith on the Nov. 6 general election ballot.

A retired nurse, Whatley is a member of the Warren County Republican Executive Committee and managed the polls at the Culkin precinct for 11 years.

Whatley taught nursing at Hinds Community College for 26 years and directed the program for 10 years, retiring in 2004. From 2005 to 2010, she served as ombudsman for Community Council, where she was liaison for four nursing homes and two retirement facilities. Her college achievements include a bachelors degree from the University of Southern Mississippi and a masters from Mississippi State University, where she graduated cum laude.

A Master Gardener, Whatley also is a volunteer with the auxiliary at River Region Medical Center and coached contestants in Young Miss Vicksburg Pageant for 10 years.

The commission enrolls voters, assigns polling places, certifies non-party candidates, conducts all general and special elections and certifies results to the Secretary of State’s Office. Members of the panel are elected every four years during the presidential election cycle.