Dan Dillard

Dillard said he is running for re-election because he has seen the board of aldermen make the decisions necessary to move Natchez forward, and he said he wants to continue to be a part of that momentum.

“I’ve got my experience together, and I’m starting to get a feel for the position,” he said. “I’ve learned a great deal, and I believe we’re at an opportune time to move the city and community forward.”

Job creation and economic development are two of the top issues in the city, Dillard said. He said Natchez Inc. has done a good job getting jobs for the area, but he said the next step for the board is to hire an economic development director, similar to the previous downtown development director position.

Dillard said he has ideas to build development in Natchez, including bringing high-speed fiber optic cables downtown to bring businesses to the empty stores. Dillard said he wants to help move recreation forward and further develop Roth Hill into an area to possibly include historically designed businesses that would bring more visitors to the city.

Dillard said he believes the current aldermen have done a good job of making budget cuts, lowering tax-anticipation loans and contracting out city services, such as grass cutting, to save money that brought the recreation department within its budget. He said contracting out the grass-cutting services also allowed Natchez Public Works to focus on dilapidated housing and overgrown lots.

Dillard said he convinced the board to purchase new accounting software two years ago, but he said he is disappointed it has taken so long for the city clerk’s office to implement the software. He said once the software is fully functional, the aldermen will be able to have a full understanding and access the city’s financial status throughout the year.

The aldermen have many responsibilities overseeing the different issues and departments in the city, and Dillard said his experience qualifies him to continue his service as an alderman.

“The job warrants someone who is able to understand the substantial responsibility and accountability needed to run the city,” he said.

The primary election is May 1, and the general election is June 5. Foster will not be on the primary ballot.