NATCHEZ &045; While Republican Sue Stedman wasn’t ready to concede defeat, the scene at the Old Brick House was very much like a celebration.

Hundreds of people crowded into the building, hugging others tight as they went and waving &uot;Phillip West for Mayor&uot; signs. Outside, a room of teenage girls cheered and car horns blared.

And in the middle of it all was Phillip West, looking a bit overcome after finding out he was the unofficial winner by just 100 votes.

Breaking away from the line of more than 60 people waiting to shake his hand, West took a quiet moment to reflect on the night’s results.

&uot;It’s been a long time coming,&uot; West said with a smile. &uot;I’m tremendously overwhelmed.&uot;

But he was also grateful, judging from the long list of supporters, past and present, he thanked during his later speech to the gathered crowd, people he said &uot;made sacrifices to help me reach this point.&uot;

&uot;This says the citizens of Natchez are ready to move forward Š to be more united and work toward a better future for all of us,&uot; West said.

Meanwhile, at her gathering at the Natchez Community Center, Stedman wasn’t about to concede defeat.

&uot;We are going to wait until we have a certified total … one way or the other. I’m going to stay in the race until we know what the final outcome is,&uot; Stedman said to the crowd.

&uot;We are going to wait and see what the total comes out to,&uot; including affidavit and absentee ballots.

Stedman said she knew the margin would very close, adding &uot;I’m very happy with this campaign.&uot;

Richard Branyan, the independent in the race, received about 3 percent of the vote, or 224 votes. West had 3,457 and Stedman had 3,357.

Was West disappointed the race was so close &045; and still is too close to call, until certification makes the results official?

&uot;Of course, I wanted it to be not as close as it was,&uot; West said. &uot;By the time I finish my term, I want to show (those who voted for others) that there was nobody better to lead this community.&uot;

&uot;I want the citizens of Natchez to feel it’s my intent to help make Natchez a better place for all its citizens,&uot; West said, adding he especially wants to improve opportunities for the city’s youth.

If West was overwhelmed, so were many in the crowd.

&uot;I didn’t think I would see this day (in my lifetime), but I always hoped,&uot; said campaign volunteer Betty McDonald. &uot;I knew this day would come someday,&uot; she said, adding &uot;this is the beginning of (a new chapter of) history for our younger people.&uot;