NATCHEZ &045; With the mayor’s election too close to call, some community residents and leaders are looking to work with whichever candidate is declared the winner.

Either way, the outcome will be historic, a fact that has not been lost on many people following this election both inside and outside of Natchez. Phillip West, the Democratic legislator, would be the first black person since Reconstruction to be elected mayor; Sue Stedman would be the first woman and a rare Republican.

The close results aside, Ron Miller, director of the Historic Natchez Foundation, said the election shows Natchez is changing.

&uot;This may be the first political race in Natchez in which race was not the deciding factor,&uot; Miller said. &uot;I know a lot of white people who said they were going to vote for Phillip. Š We may be entering a time in Natchez when race, while still a factor, is not the deciding factor.&uot;

Dr. Jack Davis &045; author of &uot;Race Against Time,&uot; a 2000 book detailing the history of race in Natchez &045; also said the unofficial results show how far Natchez has come with regards to race.

&uot;This shows there were enough people who were able to maybe, in fact, set aside the prism of race,&uot; Davis said. &uot;Or they realized that black and white people in Natchez have common interests and that Phillip West is the person who could best address those common interests.

&uot;Natchez come a long way since (West) was county (supervisor),&uot; he said. &uot;It sounds like Phillip West has been able to build some bridges since then.&uot;

Was Davis surprised West was elected? &uot;Not shocked that (Natchez) elected him, but because earlier in the evening, it was so close,&uot; Davis said, referring to an election night that, at times, showed Stedman leading West.

Getting behind the new mayor is the most important goal for Natchez, said Andrew Calvit, chairman of the Natchez-Adams County Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors.

&uot;From our standpoint at the Chamber, we’re ready to work with whoever the mayor may be,&uot; Calvit said. &uot;The important thing is that we be unified and move Natchez forward.&uot;

Calvit gave high marks to all the mayoral candidates for their campaigns. &uot;All the candidates have done a good job. We knew history would be made one way or the other, and we can be proud of that.&uot;

Dr. Norris A. Edney, president of the Natchez-Adams County School Board, had similar praise for the candidates, saying he would have been pleased with the election of West or Stedman. &uot;You had two very competent people, community-conscious people who were evenly matched. Either person would have done a fine job,&uot; he said.

Edney, a retired Alcorn State University professor and administrator, has known West for many years.

&uot;I taught him. Phillip had the sharpest mind in that series of kids I taught that year,&uot; Edney said. &uot;He’s a fine person and a very strong person. But I also feel the same about Mrs. Stedman.&uot;

Edney said he had opportunity to know of Stedman’s views and goals and was impressed. &uot;It is historical, whoever wins. I believe either would have been a strong leader for Natchez. I hope they now will together pull Natchez forward.&uot;