NATCHEZ — Two candidates will face off for the Ward 1 seat on the Natchez Board of Aldermen in the upcoming elections. One candidate said her years of experience on the job make her the perfect fit, while the other said it’s her fresh outlook that is needed.

The candidates are incumbent Joyce Arceneaux-Mathis and Kathy Traina, both Democrats.

Joyce Arceneaux-Mathis

Mathis said she is running for re-election because she wants to finish what she started. Mathis said she and the other aldermen have achieved many of the goals she set four years ago, but she wants to ensure that several of the important projects that have been started are completed, namely, she said, the North Natchez Drainage Project.

In addition to finishing projects that have been started, Mathis said she has a few ideas for new city projects that include community restructuring and revitalization, a community garden on the Natchez College property, converting an old grocery store near the Richard Wright house into a Wright museum and another historic property near it into a Civil Rights museum, restructuring Lower Woodville Road and other ideas.

The most important issue currently facing the city, Mathis said, is violent crime. Mathis said no matter what the city does to address all the other issues, crime will always impact all other things.

“We’re going to have to take a tough stance on violent crime, on drug activity, break-ins and all other crime,” she said. “We don’t want to have the stigma other cities have because of their crime rates, and I want residents to feel like they can walk in any part of town at any time and feel safe.”

Mathis said she believes her 16 years of experience as an alderwoman and her enthusiasm for the job makes her the best candidate for the position. She said her time as an alderwoman as allowed her to become familiar with the various state and federal departments and resources for funding and project help, as well as helped her build relationships with state and federal leaders.

“I know the job, I’ve had 16 years of on the job training, and I still have the enthusiasm for the job,” she said. “At 62, I’ve been blessed, and I really don’t have to do this, but I see the need, and I have a passion for that need.”

Kathy Traina

Traina, a native of Peoria, Ill., has lived in Natchez for two years and said she will bring a fresh perspective to the Ward 1 seat on the board of aldermen.

Traina said she is running for alderwoman because she feels there needs to be more transparency in city government. She said residents need to be better informed on the city’s business and projects.

“If the citizens have the same information the officials have, they’ll be able to understand the decisions made, and the aldermen can communicate why they voted the way they did,” Traina said.

Traina said if she is elected, she will make sure all available information and documents regarding city projects are readily available for public viewing.

An alderman’s job, Traina said, is to ensure residents’ needs are heard and addressed in a timely manner. She said she believes the city has done a good job of addressing drainage issues, resurfacing some streets and helping to bring a new casino to the city.

The biggest issue facing Ward 1 and the city as a whole, however, Traina said, is the lack of jobs. She said she believes the aldermen need to work cooperatively with Natchez Inc. to see what they can do to bring jobs to the city.

Traina said she has served as president and vice president on a number of art boards, as well at the City of Peoria Public Schools Board of Education. She specialized in coordinating curriculum for the schools while on the school board. Traina said she believes her board experience will translate into city government.

Traina said she is the best candidate for Ward 1 alderwoman because as a new alderwoman she would be able to look at issues from a neutral standpoint.

“I look at everybody as equal,” she said. “I think everybody has a say in what is going on.”