“I have a background in management that would make me qualified,” she said. “I have a fresh approach to the job, and I’m going to take it by the horns. I see all sorts of ways to generate revenue.”

In her opening remarks, Hendricks defended Holloway’s claims at Friday’s NAACP candidate forum that she only worked in Holloway’s office for one year. Hendricks provided a letter to forum-goers from Holloway’s office dated Monday listing her employment record with the City of Natchez.

According to the letter, Hendricks was deputy city clerk from Feb. 16, 2003 until Dec. 12, 2004.

Aldermen candidates were asked what they would do the change the tone on the board to a “what’s best for Natchez” attitude since discussions on the board seem to come down to a black and white vote too many times.

All candidates expressed that race should not be a factor in decisions that any aldermen make while on the board.

Joyce Arceneaux-Mathis, a Democratic candidate for Ward 1 alderman and the incumbent, said she disagreed with the opinion of the question. Mathis and incumbent Ward 6 Alderman Dan Dillard said they believed very few votes of the current board have been spilt along racial lines.

Mathis said she believes the split votes among the black and white aldermen usually occur when the vote is on hiring someone who is a minority.

Ward 6 Alderman candidate Dianne P. Brown said putting racial issues in the past is long overdue.

“Actually, it’s 2012, we should be way past that,” said. “It’s time for us to put that behind us, and it’s time for us to overlook all that and move forward.”

Aldermen candidates were each asked another question regarding topics in their respective wards or the city as a whole.

Ward 1

Mathis and Kathy Traina, both Democrats, were asked what ideas they have for downtown revitalization.

The city needs, Mathis said, to set aside more funding for the downtown development association and reinstate the position of a downtown development director.

Mathis said she also believes the city should better promote events at the Natchez Convention Center to draw more people downtown.