IN BRIEF: Four candidates have officially thrown their hats into the ring for Conyers mayor as Friday afternoon, the end of the qualifying period.

Incumbent mayor Randy Mills, 59, owner of Sigman-Mills Furniture, announced earlier he is running for reelection to his fifth term.

Michael Thomas Zanetti, 51, is a retired military officer.

Olivia Ware, 54, is a minister and entrepreneur.

Kathy Lorraine Harvey, 56, is a business owner. Harvey previously ran for Conyers mayor in 2009. At the time, Harvey was facing a felony theft by conversion charge out of Newton County for allegedly forging a $6,000 check.

District 1 Councilmember Cleveland Stroud and District 2, Post 1 Councilmember Chris Bowen are running unopposed. Bowen has served in the District 2 Post 1 seat since 1991. Stroud has served in the District 1 seat since 1994.

The city election will take place Nov. 5 with the precincts that vote at Pine Street Elementary and at Conyers First United Methodist Church.

Also on the ballot Nov. 5 will be a one-penny sales tax for education capital projects, also called E-SPLOST. This proposed E-SPLOST would collect about $83.6 million over five years and would focus on building new facilities for two of the county's oldest elementary schools, technology replacements and expansions, and better security for schools.

Rockdale voters have previously approved three other E-SPLOSTs, which have paid for construction of new school buildings, purchasing school busses and retiring debt obligations.

Voter registration deadline for the fall election is Oct. 7.