Donnie Holloway is already looking toward the next step in his bid to become Natchez city clerk. Holloway won Tuesday’s Democratic primary runoff for the position, beating Fredericka Cain Todd with 59.25 percent of the vote in unofficial results. About 65 paper ballots yet to be counted from Ward 3 and an unknown number of affidavit ballots yet to be counted.

Holloway now faces independent JoeAnne Hicks in the June 6 general election.

&uot;We feel real good,&uot; said Holloway over the din of a celebration at his house. &uot;We’re glad we won. I thank God and my family and friends and the people who voted for me. We ran a good race, and Mrs. Todd ran a good race.&uot;

Holloway said his strategy won’t change as he heads into the next election.

&uot;We’ll get back out there and politic,&uot; he said. &uot;We’ll get back out knocking on doors.&uot;

Holloway, business manager for Natchez Ford Lincoln Mercury, has emphasized his qualifications in this race.

He said he would continue to do so in the race against Hicks, who is a deputy city clerk in the city clerk’s office.

Holloway and Todd had been forced into a runoff by the May 2 primary, in which Holloway received 43 percent of the vote and Todd received 36.63 percent of the vote.

Billy Geoghegan, who later threw his support toward Holloway, received 17.2 percent of the vote in that election.

Todd thanked her supporters and the people who voted for her. &uot;I’m disappointed but not hurt,&uot; she said.

&uot;I want to congratulate Donnie on his win.&uot;

Todd said she thought she was part of a test for Natchez voters — and she said Natchez flunked.

&uot;For a brief moment in time I deluded myself into thinking that Natchez was ready to forget color and vote for qualifications,&uot; she said. &uot;I’m very thankful to God that he blessed me with above average intelligence which I used toward obtaining the highest degree possible, the Ph.D.

&uot;I offered myself as a test — and the white people of Natchez flunked.&uot;