Faster than spring flowers candidates signs are popping up all over Natchez.

With every color of the rainbow, local yards and street corners are covered in the reminders to vote.

From the mayoral race to the city judge candidates and with an alderman or two thrown into the mix, you should be able to find someone that you believe will do the best job and guide our city through the next few years.

With a new casino coming to town and rumors of a possible industry at the port, there are potential jobs on the horizon.

But before the mayor or aldermen can work with those businesses to lure them to our fair city, we have to exercise our right to vote.

Before the new city judge can enforce our laws and help clean up our streets of those who would commit crimes, we have to exercise our right to vote.

I won’t spend today’s column telling you whom I’m voting for, nor will I ask whom you are voting for.

What I will ask is that you take into consideration all who live here and the potential that we have as a city and exercise your right to vote.

According to Newsweek only 52 percent of those eligible to vote in the presidential election in 2000 did so. That is pitiful.

That means that a little more than half of the people you know voted and the others, well, they didn’t think it was important enough.

The riverboats bringing tourists to Natchez are going to continue to run, and tourism numbers are up. There are great things on the horizon for Natchez and there are jobs.

With more employed people in our city, our grocery stores will stay open, our schools will continue to thrive, cars will sell and so will homes.

Strong leadership in Natchez affects us all, which means your vote is important.

Not going to be in town that day? Fill out an absentee ballot and get it in.

What about your college student? Be sure his or her absentee ballot is completed also.

My motto has always been &uot;if you don’t vote, you don’t have the right to complains later.&uot;

Lately, I have heard lots of complaining so I hope that will be followed up by lots of voting.

Speaking of voting.

A few weeks ago I told you about a recent article in Southern Living that ranked our very own Fat Mama’s as one of th 204 best places to eat in the South.

At the time I asked you to write in and tell me your favorite places in the Miss-Lou to eat.

From hamburgers to fried fish and from desserts to appetizers, I want to hear from you so I can publish an article on your Miss-Lou favorites.

While many people have stopped me in person to tell me their favorite things, I have gotten few e-mails or calls.

Don’t be left out. E-mail me at

christina.hall@natchezdemocrat.com

and get your favorite food and restaurant on &uot;The List.&uot;

By the way, just as little hint as to how things are going with &uot;The List.&uot; All I can say is the the Duck’s Nest over on Lake St. John has a very faithful following.

Christina Hall

writes a weekly column for The Democrat.