NATCHEZ — Rickey Gray said he was elated Tuesday when he found out he captured 1,009 votes, winning the race for Adams County District 4 supervisor.

However, with Gray’s big win, an empty seat will be left on the Natchez Board of Aldermen, where Gray currently serves as Ward 2 alderman.

Natchez Mayor Butch Brown said since Gray still has a few more months before he is sworn in as District 4 Supervisor, he hasn’t given much thought to what will happen to the Ward 2 seat in the interim.

“I’ve never had to deal with that in my political career, but I would assume there would be someone to serve that ward so we have continuity,” Brown said.

County supervisors take office in January and the city votes for aldermen positions on July 1 — leaving six months where the board will need a temporary Ward 2 alderman.

Brown said to avoid any kind of advantage for Ward 2 alderman candidates who will later campaign for the seat, the board would appoint someone who wouldn’t run for that elected position.

“I think the interim person would be decided by the consensus of the board,” he said. “I would think that the board would like to make the appointment independently.”

Gray, who has served as Ward 2 alderman for approximately 16 years, said he knows of a few people who might be able to temporarily serve Ward 2.

“I’m going to try and get two individuals who aren’t running and recommend them (for the interim position),” Gray said. “The decision will be up to the board, though.”

Gray said he hopes whoever fills his shoes in the interim realizes the amount of dedication and time commitment required for the alderman position.

It’s not an easy task, he said.

“This is a big responsibility, and you have to have the time to do the job,” Gray said. “You have to be a sensible person, and dedicated to representing the people of your ward.”

With Gray’s looming departure, Brown said the board would miss Gray, and everything he brought to the table.

“Rickey, he is a good alderman, and very much in tune to his constituency, and a student of Mississippi code as it pertains to municipal government,” Brown said. “He’ll make a good supervisor.”

Since Gray has been exposed to city government, Brown said he hopes Gray will use his knowledge to form a better line of communication between the city and county.

“I hope that he brings new and fresh blood to the board of supervisors,” Brown said. “And I hope he remembers that Natchez is a part of Adams County. Him serving on the board, I think that will be very beneficial. We’re proud of him.”