NATCHEZ &045; Cutting costs and attracting new jobs.

Although they might take different paths to those same goals, all three candidates for District 1 supervisor said they would make those two things top priorities if elected.

Sammy Cauthen

In order to attract new industries, Adams County will have market the resources it already has, including the Natchez-Adams County Port, said incumbent District 1 Supervisor Sammy Cauthen.

Cauthen is the Mississippi Association of Supervisors’ representative on the Mississippi Water Resource Association. And he said that, if he is re-elected, he will continue to work closely with the Department of Transportation to steer business toward the port.

Domestically, &uot;there is going to be more river movement in the future, with industries looking to cut costs, Š and you can’t build new roads fast enough,&uot; he said.

Cauthen said would also push to keep rail service in Natchez to keep existing industries here.

He said another major challenge will be to, once the budget process starts later this summer, find ways to cut costs without severely cutting maintenance of roads, bridges and the courthouse.

&uot;We have one of the best road systems in the state, and we’ve tried to do a fairly good job of holding costs down,&uot; Cauthen said.

Still, &uot;the budget situation is critical,&uot; Cauthen said. When asked whether a tax increase might be necessary in the future to make ends meet, he added that &uot;taxes are too high in Adams County now.&uot;

Mike Lazarus

Mike Lazarus, a candidate for supervisor in District 1, said fiscal conservativism and an open-door policy would be hallmarks of his administration if he is elected.

Lazarus said he would push to reduce the number of county vehicles and would keep his travel expenses to a minimum.

&uot;We have to get as much done with as little as possible,&uot; Lazarus said. He added that he won’t know what other items can be cut until he has a chance to take a deeper look at county finances if he is elected.

To help attract businesses to the area, Lazarus said would work closely with the Economic Development Authority.

Starting an incentive fund to lure new business Adams County’s way is something Lazarus also said he would support.

And he said his door would always be open to both prospective industries and the public at large.

&uot;I want to be a supervisor people can call and stop by and ask questions,&uot; Lazarus said. &uot;I don’t want to make false promises. My promise is that, if I’m elected, I would give the people four years’ worth.&uot;

In addition, Lazarus said he would push to give the public more ways to give their input on the bigger decisions that face supervisors.

Jerry Lyles

To boost the local economy, officials would do well to get ideas for creating jobs from area businesspeople themselves, said Jerry Lyles, a candidate for supervisor in District 1.

&uot;We need to partner with local entrepreneurs in coming up with ideas and acting on them to create jobs and industry,&uot; he said. &uot;We have to be creative, use our resources and ideas, and have vision.&uot;

Also Lyles said that, if elected, he would work closely with Copiah-Lincoln Community College and Alcorn State University to come up with economic solutions.

To help stave off a tax increase, Lyles said he would take a hard look at the budget and, if elected, would meet with department heads and other supervisors to see what spending cuts can be made.

At the same time, he said he would not vote for the county to buy new properties. &uot;We have to budget and live within our means,&uot; Lyles said. But as far as services are concerned, he said he believes roads, drainage and bridges in District 1 should be the last thing cut. And, after the current contract is finished, Lyles said he would vote to return to twice-a-week garbage pickup in the county.