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Voters know what they want candidates to address in election

Published 12:05am Sunday, April 8, 2012

“I think we had as much transparency as we could allow, gave the public time to talk about it and then took it into executive session and got the best deal we could,” he said.

West, who signed the original lease with the casino developers, said he was not familiar enough with latest the inner workings of the casino amendment to make a judgment on whether he would have supported it had he been mayor.

Buie, said although he does not support gaming, he does not oppose two casinos in Natchez.

“I don’t have any problem with having both casinos here, because it will eventually shut down both of them,” he said.

Buie said he filed a lawsuit against the building of condominiums on the bluff several years ago and believes all riverfront property should remain public.

Brown, Furlow, West and Middleton all said they believe Natchez can support a second casino.

Brown said he believed competition between the casinos would only breed business and growth and better the gaming in Natchez, as long as both casinos are on a level playing field.

Furlow said Natchez may be able to support a second casino, but it will not be a win-win situation for everyone.

“I do think that when we are looking at the revenue that the new casino will create, some revenue is going to be inevitably lost at the Isle of Capri,” he said.

West said he is a firm believer in the free market system and is confident Natchez should be able to capitalize on the gaming support of the region.

“If (the new casino) opens, I’m hoping the competition in Natchez will grow the market beyond the area where it’s concentrated now,” West said. “Natchez may be a little different but we won’t know until we see what happens.”

Middleton said he does not believe the Magnolia Bluffs Casino will take revenue from the Isle of Capri, which he said has been a good corporate citizen. He said a second casino would help bring more people to the city, which will increase the revenue stream for all businesses and grow Natchez’s tourism industry.

West said if the Magnolia Bluffs Casino opens, he believes many of the provisions laid out in the original lease that are included in the amendment will greatly benefit the city, such as the $1 million for a YMCA or recreation complex.

What the candidates say about recreation

West said politics held up plans for a recreation complex when he was mayor. His term ended four years ago, when Middleton defeated West.

“I’m hoping the politics of it will be established and set aside once this election is over, and a cooperative effort can be had to see what can and should be done to get the recreation complex moving,” he said.

Middleton also said he believes the money from the casino lease will help speed along plans to build a recreation complex.

“Once these elections are over, I think we really need to dig in and get back to the table,” he said. “It’s all ready to go, the plans are done, we just need to continue and get it built.”

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  • Anonymous

    Omg, West and Brown needs to find a rock to hide under, and Frisby has no room to talk about crime!

  • Anonymous

    Thee is STILL no spreadsheet on the Rec costs.

  • Anonymous

    Brown BUILT a mountain of debt, and West TORE DOWN the pecan factory and our schools.

  • Anonymous

    Don’t hold your breath, fuzzy math takes time.

  • Anonymous

    VOTE WEST VOTE WEST VOTE WEST…….A PROVEN LEADER!!!!!!!!!!!!
     

  • http://www.natchezdemocrat.com khakirat

    Well, through all my gut feeling which are about 100% right in the past it tells me through all this talk and money of election for mayor that West will be elected!!!! Why, is that the democrat primary runoff he will win because there are more blacks in the city than white!!! Then the runoff of West -indepentant-republican is where the vote is split and West wins the election!!! Pretty good figuring huh’??!!! I’m still for Furlow but the odds aren’t right for anyone as bad as I have to say it so it looks as if West has it clinched and I hope my gut is wrong!!!!

  • http://www.natchezdemocrat.com khakirat

    Who can afford it???

  • Anonymous

    Brown was appointed as the director of MDOT.  So, I  suspect he has a large background in trucking, railroads, ships/ports.  Am I correct?  And, there was a time in this country, when a public figure humilated himself, like passing out drunk at a casino and manageing to get himself arrested, that we would never hear from them ever.  Someone, please tell me the level of gravitas we are dealing with here.  Is this just more crony capitalism?   Someone please tell me what this man has to offer besides crony connections.  Heck, maybe that’s all one needs.  Did we pay off the debt on the convention center.  Please.  Someone enlighten me.

  • Anonymous

    It looks like your prediction may become true since the last minute spoiler jumping into the race.  That is what you get when yourself and the other Democrats vote only along party lines.

  • Anonymous

    You may read the article from several days ago re: city owes $19.5MM to get the numbers remaining on convention center debt.

  • Anonymous

    Yep, he led the schools to their current state.  Does that make him a state leader?

  • http://www.natchezdemocrat.com khakirat

    No, you just ain’t got enough white folks ‘huh??!!

    In a message dated 4/9/2012 6:43:03 A.M. Central Daylight Time, writes:

    (http://disqus.com/)

    oldsouthgent wrote, in response to khakirat:
    It looks like your prediction may become true since the last minute spoiler jumping into the race. That is what you get when yourself and the other Democrats vote only along party lines.

    _Link to comment_ (http://disq.us/6go6fn?imp=2056ced4-b93e-4629-b358-ebd55f048103&thread=641027312&zone=email_notification&event=shortener_click)

  • Anonymous

    i know we are talking bout elections, but let know forget the elections with public schools, especially the where ole boy morrission just got canned.  That there lady that is in his place for now, ms. something johnson is not good news.  if you think otherwise, go to an open meeting, or just try calling her.if she is actging like this is not even officially elected,think how it will be once she is.

  • Anonymous

    i don’t know about west being a proven leader.  perhaps this is what he wants everyone to think.  I only hear his name when is is running for something.  Leaders do not change in my opinion.  Whether they are in office or not, they are still the same and are willing to help as much as possible behind the limelight as well as in the limelight.  I am tired to thinking just because a person is a certain color, they will benefit people better. Most of these people, elected as well as interims have their own selfish motives.  Don’t believe it? there are facts to back it up.

  • Anonymous

    Jake 08 is slinging mud again with his latest postcard mail out. He is so desperate he is stooping to very low levels. The citizens of Natchez must voted Jake out. He is just in the race for a pay check because he certainly has no credentials to be an effective mayor.

  • Anonymous

    Political ideology has nothing to do with race.  Voting solely along party lines indicates lack of political ideology, just following along with the pack led by those with lack of a combined vision best perfected by blending ideas from both sides of the political fence.

  • http://www.natchezdemocrat.com khakirat

    I don’t tread water cause things get tuff an change parties for I’m with the working mans party as always Democrat!!!!! message dated 4/9/2012 9:08:15 P.M. Central Daylight Time,
    writes:

    (http://disqus.com/)

    oldsouthgent wrote, in response to khakirat:
    Political ideology has nothing to do with race. Voting solely along party lines indicates lack of political ideology, just following along with the pack led by those with lack of a combined vision best perfected by blending ideas from both sides of the political fence.

    _Link to comment_ (http://disq.us/6h782h?imp=af835a00-7f98-41f0-8941-61efabdf5830&thread=641027312&zone=email_notification&event=shortener_click)

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