JoeAnne Hicks said Sunday she has decided to drop out of the Natchez city clerk’s race.

An independent, Hicks would have faced Democratic nominee Donnie Holloway in the June 6 general election.

Hicks, a deputy city clerk in the office for the last 13 years, said she regrets not finishing her campaign.

&uot;I jumped into this race without a strategy or financial backing needed to carry out a formidable campaign,&uot; Hicks said. &uot;I want to thank my supporters for all their hard work, their words of encouragement and their financial support. I am proud to call them friends.&uot;

Both Hicks and Holloway said they had talked this weekend about their goals for the office.

&uot;We’ve both got the same goals, to do the best job for Natchez,&uot; said Holloway, currently the business manager for Natchez Ford Lincoln Mercury. &uot;With both of us in there, it will be a strong financial office.&uot;

The city clerk oversees Natchez’s finances and budgets, personnel and, every four years, the municipal election process.

Hicks still must turn in official notice of withdrawal to the city clerk’s office.

&uot;I wish Donnie the best as our new city clerk, and I will work to make his transition into the clerk’s office a smooth one for him and the people of Natchez,&uot; Hicks said.

Holloway said he is looking forward to working in the office and to working with a new administration.

The only contested race left on the general election ballot is between mayoral candidates F.L. &uot;Hank&uot; Smith, the Democratic nominee, and Robert L. Costa, an independent.

&uot;We’re going to work with the new mayor also,&uot; Holloway said. &uot;We’re going to have a strong financial office working with the mayor and board of aldermen. This is a win-win situation for both JoeAnne and me and the city.&uot;

This year’s city clerk’s race began as a crowded one, with five people tossing their hats in the ring for an office up for grabs when City Clerk Frances Trosclair announced in January that she would not seek a third term.

Democrat Peter Rinaldi dropped out of the race about a week before the Democratic primary. Holloway and Fredericka Cain Todd were forced into a runoff by the May 2 first primary. Holloway won the May 16 runoff with 59 percent of the vote.