NATCHEZ — Natchez Mayor Butch Brown said last month he was bowing out of the upcoming election, but has he really?

Brown made a comment — seemingly in jest — at Tuesday’s board of aldermen meeting about still officially being a candidate, saying he had not technically withdrawn his candidacy and his name would still appear on the ballot.

Although the comment drew laughter at the meeting, Brown said after the meeting that if the election were to turn out in his favor, he would accept another four years at City Hall.

“Oh, I would have to; I would be compelled,” he said.

Last month, Brown cited health issues following multiple strokes in late 2015 and a desire to spend time with his family, including a new grandson, as his reasons for not seeking reelection.

Although he is not actively campaigning and says he refuses to do so, another term as mayor is not out of the realm of possibility for Brown.

“Officially, I am on the ballot and am still a candidate,” he said. “I am getting better and I can do better than I could (when I said I was not running on March 10). My health is improving … and my condition is much better than it was on March 10.”

Brown said he is currently capable of running the city in his condition.

“What I’m not capable of doing is dealing with some aldermen who want to be mayor, but other than a disrespectful or unruly (aldermen) or two, we are doing business as normal,” he said.