NATCHEZ — One incumbent and two new challengers are facing off for the position of Ward 6 alderman in the upcoming elections.

The candidates for Ward 3 alderman are Dianne P. Brown, incumbent Dan Dillard, both Democrats, and Forrest Foster, independent.

Dianne P. Brown

Brown said she is running for a seat on the board because she believes Natchez needs new leadership.

“We all want the same things: more jobs, less crime, a balanced budget, good schools, but we’re not working together. I want to be a force to pull leadership together and pull people together to get those things,” Brown said.

Brown said she has a vision for a better and more united Natchez, and she said her experience in business and leadership in state and local roles has given her skills to be successful in city government.

The city needs a long-range comprehensive plan that the city can use to navigate its direction, Brown said. She said a plan outlining the city’s long-term vision and objectives would allow the city to stay on path no matter who is in office.

“We all see so much dissention now, and we realize how important communication and working together is to get anything accomplished,” she said.

Brown said area jobs have been created by Natchez Inc., but she said in order to keep those jobs the city must address other issues that may be keeping people from locating to Natchez, such as crime and infrastructure.

Brown said the city needs to put a police chief in place, more police officers and higher salaries for the officers. She also said the city needs to better maintain city property and streets.

In order to move Natchez forward, Brown said the aldermen across all the wards will have to unite. She said, if elected, she plans to fully represent Ward 6 but not confine herself to just the needs of Ward 6.

Brown said she has seen other cities’ success working together, and in her time living in Ridgeland, she said she gained ideas that gave her a vision for what a united Natchez can be.

“We are all part of the city,” she said. “Everybody is pulling in a different direction, and we’re not listening to one another, because if we did, we would all realize we’re on the same page and make it happen.”