Both of Natchez’s mayoral runoff candidates spent part of election eve mobilizing their campaign workers for the big day. Voters will choose today between incumbent Mayor Larry L. &uot;Butch&uot; Brown and F.L.&160;&uot;Hank&uot; Smith for the Democratic nomination for mayor.

&uot;I’m still campaigning while trying to take care of details,&uot; Smith said from his house Monday, adding that he was making sure his campaign and poll workers were organized.

Brown said from his office that he was anxious to get today’s election over with. &uot;We want to get back to good government,&uot; he said.

He said he was also spending part of Monday organizing poll workers and watchers and drivers for today’s election.

Brown’s supporters gathered at his campaign headquarters on Main Street Monday, working out strategy.

Also on today’s ballot are city clerk candidates Donnie Holloway and Fredericka Cain Todd.

They seemed to be getting in some last-minute campaigning Monday with visits to local merchants and a rally planned.

&uot;I just got home,&uot; Holloway said Monday afternoon. &uot;I was spending some time uptown in the stores talking to people.&uot;

Todd’s campaign had planned a &uot;Do the Right Thing Rally&uot; for Monday evening. She could not be reached for comment Monday afternoon.

A group of Smith’s supporters gathered outside his headquarters on Martin Luther King Drive Monday afternoon barbecuing chicken for a rally that evening.

&uot;We’re out here to get Butch Brown out,&uot;&160;said Alfred Hunter, who was cooking chicken for the rally. Hunter, who is president of the local chapter of the NAACP, said he was not representing that organization in his support for Smith.

Polls will be open between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. today. Anyone registered to vote by April 1, 2000 — including Republican voters — is eligible to vote in the primary runoff election.

In the May 2 first primary, Brown received 45.01 percent of the vote, or 2,615 votes, while Smith received 38.42 percent, or 2,232 votes.

Holloway received 43 percent of the vote in the first primary, or 2,482 votes, while Todd received 36.63 percent, or 2,114 votes.

City precincts are:

Ward 1: Council chambers, 115 S. Pearl St.

Ward 2: Frazier School, 1445 George F. West Blvd.

Ward 3: Fire station, 467 John R. Junkin Drive.

Ward 4: Union hall, 410 Gayosa Ave.

Ward 5: National Guard Armory, 329 Liberty Road.

Ward 6: Duncan Park Canteen, Duncan Park Road.

If you are unsure which precinct you should vote in, call the city clerk’s office at 445-7500.

Today’s runoff isn’t the last stop for the mayoral and city clerk candidates.

The winners of the Democratic primary still face independent opposition next month.

In the June 6 general election, the winner of the runoff for mayor faces independent Robert F. Costa. Independent Phillip &uot;Bucket&uot; West officially dropped out of the race. The winner of the runoff for city clerk faces independent JoeAnne Hicks in the general election.