Natchez-Adams School District Superintendent Dr. Carl Davis said he wants to finish what he started.

Davis withdrew his name Tuesday from a pool of candidates for the superintendent post of the Vicksburg School District.

&uot;I think I’d be crazy to leave this community and not finish what we’ve got started here,&uot; Davis said.

Davis was one of three candidates who interviewed Saturday for the Vicksburg position. School officials there expect to announce their choice Thursday.

The other two candidates were Donald Oakes, the Vicksburg-Warren interim superintendent and Dr. Timothy Havard, assistant superintendent of the Jackson County School District in Vancleave.

&uot;Whatever decision they make on Thursday, it’s not going to change mine,&uot; Davis said.

Since announcing last week that he was considering the job, Davis said there has been an outpour of support from students, parents, teachers and the community alike, all asking him to stay.

&uot;At this point, it just seems like a lot of people want me to stay here,&uot; Davis said.

Davis said his decision to stay is also a call for support from the school board, which he believes can make a positive change in Natchez and Adams County if everyone works together.

&uot;Vicksburg has a good board and we have the makings of an excellent board here,&uot; Davis said.

Davis said the last week has been difficult, because he had such a short time to evaluate every aspect of the Vicksburg position.

&uot;But the decision to stay was an easy one, because they made it for me,&uot; he said.

Since Davis announced his plans to interview in Vicksburg, Natchez-Adams School Board President Kenneth Taylor has said that he hoped that Davis would decide to stay in Natchez.

Vicksburg Warren School Board Vice President John Carlisle said he had heard of Davis’s decision to remove his name for consideration.

&uot;Now we’re down to two,&uot;&160;Carlisle said.

&uot;He’s a very fine candidate,&uot; Carlisle said about Davis. &uot;You all got a good man there.&uot;

Davis came to the district in January 1999, having signed a 3 1/2 year superintendent contract

Emily Whitten contributed to this report