With the dust settled after qualifying for Natchez municipal elections, the mayor’s race has attracted five candidates: a two-term incumbent, a political veteran and three downtown business owners.

In the May 2 Democratic primary, Mayor Larry L. &uot;Butch&uot; Brown will face John &uot;Pulley Bone&uot; Pullen and F.L. &uot;Hank&uot; Smith.

Smith and Pullen own businesses a few doors down from each other in the Canal Street Depot downtown. Smith owns Hullabaloo Gifts, and Pullen runs Pulley Bones restaurant.

The Democratic primary winner will face independents Robert F. Costa and Phillip &uot;Bucket&uot; West in the June 6 general election.

Costa owns T.A.S.S.&160;House Bed and Breakfast and T.A.S.S.&160;House Antiques, while West now serves in the state House, representing District 94 as a Democrat.

West, who ran for mayor four years ago and is in his third year as a state representative, has spent 21 years in public office. He also served as an Adams County supervisor for 18 years.

West said he decided to run as an independent in part because he will be in Legislative session in Jackson until early May — leaving little time to campaign before the primary.

But West said he had also been hoping that &uot;there would not be a need for me to run.&uot;

People have been asking him to run for the last year and a half, he said, because &uot;they didn’t see anybody who would offer an alternative.&uot;

&uot;Some people feel that the present direction of the city does not lend itself to opportunity for everyone,&uot; he said.

Brown said he wants to continue the work he has begun in his first two terms in office.

Since he was elected mayor in 1992, the city has built the Natchez Visitor Reception Center and begun work on a $12 million downtown convention center complex. The city has also received millions of dollars in grants to stabilize the city’s bluffs.

&uot;We had what we consider is a strong and successful two terms,&uot; he said last week. &uot;We’ve been encouraged to run for reelection. … We want to go ahead and get those other projects that are on the drawing board under way.&uot;

Before running for office in 1992, Brown had not held political office. He is the owner of Riverside Central Services.

Costa, Pullen and Smith have not held office before, but all have a background in business.

Costa has said he is concerned about the direction of the city and would like to see greater economic development and more jobs in the area. He said his concerns about the direction of the city have been ongoing, and he’s heard similar concerns from other residents.

The city recently announced plans to build a multi-million dollar sports complex next to Natchez High School, but funding methods are unknown.

&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;

Pullen, who was once active in a Concordia Parish citizens group that opposed higher taxes, said he wants to attract industries and create jobs in the community. &uot;I believe it is time for Natchez to change our concept of where we are going,&uot; Pullen said in his campaign announcement.

Smith, who worked for 20 years as a management employee at BellSouth before buying Hullabaloo Gifts, also said he believes the community needs more jobs.

&uot;It is imperative that we reverse the severe population loss trend of the past several years and to do this one of my top priorities is the creation of better-paying jobs,&uot; he said in his campaign announcement.