Democrat Phillip West said his main concern is that Natchez needs a more comprehensive approach to its marketing and promotion of Natchez’s history and entities, whether it be through the website, magazine or other advertising.

Candidates were asked whether they believed the CVB has done a good job promoting Natchez.

Brown said he believed solving any issues at the CVB started with the board.

“When I left here in 2000, we had good strong CVB board in place,” he said. “What’s happened since then, I don’t know the inner workings … but if the board is not functional, it needs to be replaced.”

Buie said he did not believe the CVB had done a good overall job promoting Natchez.

“The short answer is no,” he said. “I think they have done a good job with what they have to work with.”

Buie said the city needs to spend more money marketing Natchez. He said the city has the excuse of poor economic times now, but he said it has not always had that to use as an excuse.

“The budget is ridiculously low,” he said. “We should be spending millions. We’ve got to find ways to do that, and it needs a business approach rather than a lot of talk.”

Furlow said he believes the CVB can do a better job marketing Natchez. He said he believes the city should harness all its tourism resources, including B&Bs, hotels, Pilgrimage, the National Park Service and more, for a collective marketing effort through a strategic plan.

“What the CVB is not doing is creating a place for everybody in the tourism industry to come work together,” he said.

Furlow said the CVB should be pulling together all the different tourism entities and fostering the cooperation among them.

Furlow added that, if elected, the CVB would be personally responsible to him.

Middleton said he has heard both sides of the story that criticize and also praise the CVB’s marketing efforts.

“I think a lot of it is personalities, which you have in every business,” he said.

Middleton said there are problems at the CVB, and he said he believes the CVB has to get back to the basics, starting with the board.

“You have to have a good, solid board in place, and if they’re not getting the job done, then tell us,” he said. “I don’t have a problem getting rid of a board member.”

West said he did not want to be critical of the CVB when he does not have all the facts. He said, however, he believes a more personal approach to marketing Natchez would improve tourism.

Personal visits by CVB representatives, West said, to other cities or functions is one of the most effective ways to promote Natchez.