NATCHEZ &045;&045; First, state Rep. Phillip West broke ranks with the Legislative Black Caucus to voice his support for Judge Charles Pickering’s appointment to the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals.

On Friday, U.S. Rep. Chip Pickering, R-3rd District and son of Charles Pickering, spoke up to congratulate West on his victory and urge Natchez’s citizens to support their new mayor.

&uot;Natchez has a bright future in which we can all participate if we maintain unity and work together,&uot; Pickering said.

In the Tuesday general election Democrat West defeated Sue Stedman, a Republican, by just 100 votes. Stedman said Thursday she will not contest those results.

Statements of support from Pickering &045;&045; and on the local level from Adams County supervisors President Darryl Grennell &045;&045; came a day after Stedman issued a call for her supporters to support West however possible.

In his statement, Pickering congratulated both West and Stedman on their vigorous campaigns.

Pickering said he knows Stedman’s service to Natchez isn’t over yet. Stedman, whom Pickering called &uot;a great friend and longtime supporter,&uot; served eight years on the Natchez Board of Aldermen and has participated in a number of community activities and boards.

However, Pickering also noted West has been a great friend of his family, especially in his support of the appointment of Pickering’s father to the Court of Appeals.

&uot;He crossed the political aisle and stood against many of his own political allies to defend my father’s record,&uot; Pickering said. &uot;He showed courage and a commitment to do what was right before what was political.&uot;

He noted that West also has a long record of public service and civic activity. &uot;I believe,&uot; he said, &uot;(West) can be an effective and successful mayor.&uot;

And Pickering said that in order to bring economic prosperity back to the Miss-Lou, all of the area’s citizens must work together.

&uot;We face challenges in this community, but working together we will overcome economic obstacles while meeting the needs of citizens: safe streets and homes, good schools, equal opportunity and justice for all,&uot; Pickering said.

That’s a sentiment Grennell echoed in a statement he also released on Friday.

Grennell said he’s confident Natchez-Adams County can overcome its economic woes &045;&045; which were capped nearly a year ago with the closing of International Paper’s Natchez mill.

But that can only happen if city and county officials and all area residents work together and support the schools, the Economic Development Authority and other area agencies, he said.

&uot;It’s going take the community as a whole to come together&uot; to boost Natchez-Adams’ quality of life, Grennell said.

&uot;I am recommending to the residents to be … positive and proactive about our community all the time and supportive to all our leadership,&uot; Grennell said.

He also said he will work with Mayor-elect West and the Board of Aldermen to better the entire community.