NATCHEZ, Miss. – The city’s administration begins a new four-year term Monday with the same mayor and aldermen as before to continue what’s been dubbed the “Natchez Renewal.”
Inauguration ceremonies are set at noon for Natchez Mayor Dan Gibson and the six aldermen to renew their oaths of office at the Natchez Convention Center. Gibson was reelected without opposition June 4 to become the first Natchez mayor in 28 years to win a second consecutive term.
Three aldermen were reelected without opposition while the three other incumbents fended off their challengers.
“We are looking forward to the next four years,” said Gibson, who began his first term in 2020 – during the early months of the COVID pandemic – with his “Natchez Renewal” theme.
Lauding various accomplishments since then – such as city park improvements and resurfaced streets without tax increases – the mayor said he and the Board of Aldermen on Monday “will celebrate the accomplishments of the past four years and, more importantly, highlight the goals and aspirations of the next four years.”
High on the list of what’s been done and what’s left to do: receiving a $24.5 million federal grant that city officials applied for and is getting to enhance an area of Natchez stretching from Devereux Drive through downtown to the bluff overlooking the Mississippi River. The U.S. Department of Transportation officially announced today the funds are being awarded for the city’s much-planned “Forks to Freedom Corridor” project.
The $24.5 million grant is to be used by the city to improve pathways, landscapes, lighting, signage and other transit-related fixtures. Key elements of the project are the historic Forks of the Road slave market site, Hiram Revels Plaza and the U.S. Colored Troops Monument that are being developed to commemorate Black history.
“After decades of underinvestment, the condition of America’s infrastructure is now finally getting better instead of worse – and today we proudly announce our support for 148 more projects in communities of every size across the country,” U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said in announcing the grants.
While the Gibson-led administration succeeded in winning such a major grant, the past four years at City Hall have not been without conflicts between the mayor and some aldermen. The most recent was the 3-2 vote earlier this month to keep closed a Black-owned nightclub on Franklin Street that Gibson and others said was a public nuisance.
While Alderman Billie Joe Frazier said such actions by city officials are “driving a wedge in our community,” he expressed hope for reconciliation.
“It’s a new (term) coming up July 1. Everybody is going to get sworn in,” Frazier told his colleagues. “I’m going to try to work with each and every individual up here, but I have my own ways. …. Sometimes I vote with you and sometimes I don’t, but let’s still respect each other.”
“I am looking forward to next (term) and working with you,” Gibson told Frazier, who has been the mayor’s most outspoken dissenter along with Alderman Felicia Irving.
“We may not always agree. We may go this way or that, but ultimately let’s stay together. We are all one Natchez,” Gibson said.
Following Monday’s noontime inauguration ceremonies, Gibson and the six aldermen will hold their first board meeting for the new term at 3 p.m. in the City Council Chambers on Pearl Street. They will later party that evening at Rolling River Reloaded on Main Street with food and music free for the public at 6 p.m. Gibson noted the gala is being paid for with campaign funds accumulated from his uncontested reelection bid.
The last mayor reelected with opposition was Butch Brown in 1996. Since denying Brown the third term he sought in 2000, Natchez voters selected and then rejected three mayors: Hank Smith, Phillip West and Jake Middleton. Brown later served a third term but opted not to run for reelection. Daryl Grennell succeeded Brown but didn’t run for a second term in 2020, when Gibson was elected.
Ward 4 Alderman Felicia Irving was reelected for her third term after defeating her challenger. Ward 5 Alderman Ben Davis won his reelection over two challengers for his third term. Ward 6 Alderman Curtis Moroney was reelected without opposition. He was first elected a year ago in a special election to replace Dan Dillard, who died in 2023.
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