NATCHEZ — Four of six incumbent Natchez aldermen and one mayoral candidate have submitted qualifying papers for the April municipal election.

The City of Natchez election qualification period began Jan. 2 and ends Feb. 7 — 60 days before the first primary election on April 7. Runoff elections, if necessary, will be April 28, followed by the general election on June 2, Natchez City Clerk Servia Fortenberry said.

As of Friday afternoon, Ward 1 Alderwoman Joyce Arceneaux-Mathis, Ward 2 Alderman Billie Joe Frazier, Ward 4 Alderwoman Felicia Irving and Ward 5 Alderman Ben Davis submitted applications for reelection to their current seats and local businessman Dan Gibson filed an application for City of Natchez Mayor.

Incumbent Natchez Mayor Darryl Grennell announced last month that he would not seek a second term.

Thus far, all candidates who have filed are running as Democrats.

Meanwhile, a group called OneBoard has petitioned the Adams County Board of Supervisors for a ballot item asking for a public vote on whether the Natchez city government should be dissolved and all its municipal functions taken over by the Adams County Board of Supervisors.

On Friday, attorney Paul Benoist, spokesman for OneBoard, said the group is asking all candidates to commit to repealing the Natchez special code charter so that the initiative can be presented to Mississippi legislators.

Benoist specifically asked Dan Gibson in an open email if he supports the OneBoard platform.

“We helped turnover 3 of 5 Board of Supervisor positions last year. We are now focusing on the City,” Benoist stated in the letter.

“As you may know, only 5 – 6% of all 298 Mississippi municipalities have held onto the archaic form of government known as special code charters. They are categorically anti-business, using 19th century approaches to 21st century problems.”

Gibson said he appreciates the group’s concerns and said it is “too early” for him to voice an opinion about abolishing city government.

“I appreciate the effort they (OneBoard) have put in,” Gibson said. “I have talked with them and I look forward to talking with them some more, because anytime a group of citizens get together and ask for their voice to be heard, I think we should always listen. Whether or not that means I agree with them, it’s too early to say. … I would have to withhold any opinion on that until I have more information.”

Gibson said, for now, Natchez should focus on perfecting its government in its existing form.

“At the end of the day, we have to work with what we already have,” he said. “Right now, the City of Natchez is our government, and we need to make it the best that it can be.”