NATCHEZ — The tourism director candidate the Natchez Board of Aldermen selected to hire declined the city’s offer Tuesday.

While Natchez Mayor Darryl Grennell declined to name the person who had been offered the job, he said the chosen candidate apparently has decided to remain at her current job.

On Saturday, the board of aldermen interviewed Lyn Fortenbery and Misty Shaw for the position.

Fortenbery is assistant general manager of Dunleith in Natchez and a past president of the Mississippi Tourism Association.

Shaw is the director of programs and services for the Louisiana Office of Tourism and formerly worked for the Gulf Coast Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Fortenbery declined to comment.

Shaw would not confirm or deny whether she had been offered the job, saying only “the process has been a positive one, and that is because of the wonderful work by the mayor, the aldermen and by the (Natchez Convention and Promotion) Commission.”

“To be a part of the present and future tourism product for Natchez is going to be a wonderful opportunity for someone, and I look forward to seeing how Natchez grows,” she said.

Grennell said he would need direction from the board of aldermen and the Natchez Convention Promotion Commission on how to proceed in the search for a director.

“I can’t do that until the board convenes after the holidays,” he said.

The director position was left vacant after former director Kevin Kirby was terminated in April following ongoing personnel issues at the Natchez Convention and Visitors Bureau. The board of aldermen also asked for the resignations of the members of the commission.

Since then, the city has been re-evaluating the management of its tourism operations and has sought to rebuild its leadership.

The board recently appointed new commissioners, and the main remaining need, city leaders say, is to get a director in place.

Although Grennell suggested the aldermen allow the commission to hire the director, the aldermen voted 4-1 last to make the hire themselves.

Members of the commission attended the interviews Saturday.