A Natchez business owner who said he is &uot;tired of complacency&uot; in the city is running for mayor as an independent. Robert Costa, owner of TASS House Antiques and TASS House Bed and Breakfast and a Natchez resident for 21 years, qualified Thursday to run as an independent. The general election is June 6.

&uot;I am running because I am convinced this town is dying in complacency, and I think it deserves more,&uot; Costa said, adding Natchez needs more industry and jobs.

To qualify as an independent, Costa had to gather the signatures of 50 registered voters, something candidates registering as Democrats and Republicans do not have to do.

He said gathering the signatures has marked the beginning of his campaign.

Costa hasn’t had political experience before, but the 63-year-old has had extensive business and sales experience, from directing safety and personnel for a steel company to running an industrial medical supply firm in Natchez.

&uot;I know right from wrong and good from bad,&uot; Costa said. &uot;I don’t know whether that qualifies me for politics.&uot;

He said his concerns about the direction of the city have been ongoing, and he’s heard similar concerns from other residents.

Although Costa said he has seen the city accomplish positive projects such as bluff stabilization, he’s also worried about future projects that don’t yet have funding.

&uot;I’m not certain how a lot of these things are going to be paid for,&uot; Costa said. &uot;It’s based on a lot of optimism. These are concerns that people have.&uot;

Costa is the first candidate to qualify to run for mayor, but Mayor Larry L. &uot;Butch&uot; Brown has said he intends to qualify for re-election. The deadline to qualify for the election is March 31.

And Costa said he welcomes more candidates in the race.

&uot;I am hoping (my candidacy) will make other people run as well,&uot; he said. &uot;We need to get some qualified people who want to make improvements.&uot;