Bob Pollard

Pollard, who has served as the alderman Ward 3 for eight years, said his experience on makes him the best candidate for the position.

Pollard said his main concern is city infrastructure, and he said he wants to see Ward 3 residents’ infrastructure needs addressed in the next four years.

“We need to move to the south end of town,” he said. “Everybody needs work on city streets, and it’s time we moved to the south end of the city.”

Pollard said the city’s grant matching funds come from the city’s capital improvements fund, which he said means Ward 3 residents’ tax dollars are being spent on projects in other wards and Ward 3 residents are not getting the return on their dollar.

Pollard added that the city buildings including City Hall, the city auditorium and city council chambers need desperate upgrades.

Pollard said he wants to see the capital improvements money be used for infrastructure, and he said he wanted to see the city self-sufficient and not relying on tax-anticipation loans or grants.

In his eight years in officer, Pollard said he has learned the job well and wants to see the projects under way in the city through to the end.

“There are some things we’re doing and some projects we’ve got going that I want to make sure are finished,” Pollard said.

Sarah Carter Smith

Smith said she is running for alderman to give back to her community, an example she said she hopes to set for more people her age in the community.

“I have no personal agenda, and I’m totally objective, I just want to give back to the community I grew up in and love,” Smith said.

Smith said her background in business and work in a corporate setting will help her address the biggest issues she sees in the city: job growth. Smith said she believes Natchez Inc. has done a good job getting businesses to the area, and she said she would like to see the city work in a similar way.

“I’ve seen what they’ve done working through communication, intelligence and cooperation,” she said. “I would like to see that trickle down through local government, starting with elected officials and trickling down through employees, as well.”

Smith said she would bring her common sense approach to city government.

“We need to analyze every issue with common sense and make a decision based on job development and growth while balancing our history and preservation,” she said.

Smith’s door will always be open to residents, she said the procedures are in place to run the city smoothly, but she said there needs to be more cooperation among officials and inclusion of residents.

Smith said she also brings with her outside experience from the progressive cities in which she has lived outside of the city. She said she wants to make it as easy as possible for outside businesses to come and work easily with the city.

“I’ve seen cities work well together, and I’m bringing more than just having grown up and lived here my whole life,” she said. “I want to see this city successful, and I want to help make it the city I know it can be.”