NATCHEZ &045;&045; Independent candidate Richard Branyan said Tuesday he has no plans to drop out of the mayoral race despite pressure to do so.

Branyan faces Phillip West, a Democrat, and Sue Stedman, a Republican, in the June 8 general election.

Branyan said he has been pressured by local Republicans to drop out of the race. But Johnny Junkin, chairman of the city’s Republican Executive Committee, denied such reports.

&uot;If so, I’d like to know who it is. (Branyan) needs to give us some names,&uot; Junkin said. &uot;I can tell you it’s no one in the party structure, because I’ve specifically given orders not to do so.&uot;

If anyone is pressuring Branyan not to run, they’re working alone, Junkin said.

Branyan said, however, that he does not believe Stedman herself is directing anyone to pressure him to drop out of the race.

Regardless, Branyan said he is aware that some believe he is siphoning white votes away from Stedman, who is white, helping ensure a win for West, who is black.

Branyan said some friends and acquaintances have stopped speaking to him because he insists on running for mayor.

He said he has received letters urging him to drop out, and he said some people have each launched a &uot;whisper campaign&uot; to discredit him.

Branyan said he is running to improve Natchez &045;&045; and specifically, tourism efforts in Natchez &045;&045; and believes he has put the issue of tourism on the agenda of major election issues.

&uot;If I didn’t think I could come in second, I wouldn’t run, but I believe I can,&uot; Branyan said.

&uot;A lot of people would love to see me drop out,&uot; he said. &uot;But there are also a lot of people who would prefer to see anyone other than Sue or Phillip be our next mayor.&uot;

Although he declined to give names, Branyan said a variety of donors have offered to donate $12,000 toward his campaign in the last week.

However, Branyan said he is not being backed &045;&045; and has not been offered money by &045;&045; anyone who has said they want him to stay in the race specifically to ensure West a win.

Specifically, Branyan said local veterinarian and avid political watcher Dr. Alton Hall has not donated money &045;&045; only advice &045;&045; to his campaign.

&uot;There’s no truth to it,&uot; Hall said Tuesday of reports he is financially backing Branyan and/or West.

Hall said he has only backed two candidates for city elections &045;&045; Claude Pintard for city judge and Mike Thompson for mayor, both of whom lost in the primary.

Hall said he advised both West and Branyan early on not to run because he felt they couldn’t win.

Although Hall was present at West’s celebration after last week’s runoff election, he said he was simply there to admit to West he was wrong in his estimation of West’s chances.

Hall said he and West have known each other well during the past 26 years and added that he admires West’s long record of political involvement.

Meanwhile, Branyan said he will work to get his name and platform out to the voting public in the days leading up to the June 8 election. However, he said he does not yet know when to begin the bulk of his campaign spending &uot;until I see how seriously Hank will contest (the runoff) election.&uot;

Incumbent Mayor F.L. &uot;Hank&uot; Smith, defeated by West in the runoff, said Monday he is asking the Democratic Executive Committee for a review of that election’s ballots.