NATCHEZ &045; Only three days remain before the city will close qualifying for upcoming municipal elections.

Natchez City Clerk Donnie Holloway said his office will be open until 5 p.m. Friday for qualifying.

The Natchez municipal primary is May 4, and the general election is June 8.

Three people have officially qualified for mayor, although incumbent F.L. &uot;Hank&uot; Smith has said he will run again.

On the ballot for the city’s top post are:

4Danny Barber, former justice court judge. Barber is a former sheriff’s deputy and constable who ran unsuccessfully last year for Adams County sheriff.

4Fred Middleton, former chairman of the Natchez-Adams Chamber of Commerce Board. Middleton works at Big M Supply with his brother, Jake, who is a Natchez alderman.

4Michael P. Thompson, owner of owner of Bluff City Distributors for 12 years and also a past chamber chairman.

Smith, a former business owner, is serving in his first term.

Natchez aldermen will be on the ballot this spring as well. Last month city officials announced they were not sure whether those elections could be held because of questions about redistricting, but the U.S. Justice Department has approved the new plan and elections can go on as scheduled.

Three incumbent aldermen are currently running unopposed: Ward 1’s Joyce Arcenueaux, Ward 2’s Ricky Gray and Ward 6’s Jake Middleton.

Qualifying in other races:

4Ward 3: David Smith and incumbent Sue Stedman.

4Ward 4: Donnell Newsome and incumbent Theodore &uot;Bubber&uot; West.

4Ward 5: James G. Gilbert and incumbent David Massey.

Holloway is so far running unopposed for city clerk.

The race for municipal judge, a position being vacated by longtime Judge John M. Tipton, has attracted the most qualifiers: Jim Blough, Kevin Colbert, Lisa Jordan Dale, Patricia Dunmore and Claude Pintard.