NATCHEZ — The incumbent candidate in Adams County’s District 5 supervisors’ seat is asking voters to give him a chance to continue working with the board to make the county a better place, while his challenger says a change is needed to move the county forward.

Sitting Supervisor Calvin Butler, a Democrat, will face Republican challenger Grady Wilson in Tuesday’s election.

Calvin Butler

Butler said he’s asking for the people to re-elect him because he has worked hard and he feels he has answered their needs.

“I am telling people if they are still committed to progress and to seeing Adams County move forward, then come out to the polls and vote for me,” he said.

Butler said he’s proud to have been part of a board that encouraged job creation and economic development.

“We had a part to play with the coming of Delta-Energy and the expansion of von Drehle and Great River Industries,” he said. “The supervisors had to give the incentives to make it look attractive to come to the community, had to work with Natchez Inc. on those projects.”

Butler said he knows of several people who used to work in the shuttered Johns Manville plant who had to look elsewhere for work, but have now been recommended for hire to von Drehle.

“Those guys are looking for opportunities to come back to Adams County, and they are getting to come back to Adams County while von Drehle is getting quality workers.”

Butler said he wants to see the consolidated recreation program the county and city governments have recently started moving forward on continue to completion, but he would also like to develop recreation opportunities especially in Distict 5.

That plan includes building a walking trail, installing picnic tables and a fishing pier at the lake at the Natchez-Adams County airport, he said.

“I want to be able for people to have family reunions or picnics, where you can go out there and just enjoy the great outdoors,” Butler said.

Grady Wilson

Wilson ran for the District 5 office four years ago, and he is running now because “absolutely nothing has changed since then,” he said.

Wilson’s main point of concern is the local education system. Wilson said he would like to see a change made on the board of trustees of the Natchez Adams School District.

“The supervisors hands are tied to an extent, but if (a school board member) isn’t doing his job, we need to get rid of him,” he said. “Everybody needs to be held accountable.”

Wilson said supervisors are paid enough for the position to be a full-time job, and that is how he would treat it.

“I would put every effort I have got into making a difference,” he said. “People say I am naive to think I can make a difference — I am not naive, I feel I can do something, but it is going to take an effort to do it.”

Wilson likewise said he would focus on local infrastructure if elected.

“We need to focus on keeping our streets straightened out, better spending our dollars as far as taking care of our roads,” Wilson said. “We have to get ahead of the ball game, because right now we are behind it. It seems like we are waiting for somebody to call before we fix it. That is what I have heard when I am shaking hands.”

Wilson said the county needs “more people to do more,” and he would push to have all five supervisors sit down together and show what they need done in each district.

“We would have to prioritize what would need to be done first,” he said. “Then we would direct that to those people who would do it.”

Wilson said he believes the board of supervisors should be run like a business, with an eye to protecting money rather than losing it.

“I just want people to come out and vote,” he said. “The last thing we have to protect us is our vote. If you are tired of things, the only way you can change it is your vote. This is our system, and it works if you stay with it.”