NATCHEZ &8212; Halfway between elections, Natchez aldermen feel they have accomplished much over the past two years and plan do more in the future.

Joyce Arceneaux Mathis said she has been lobbying the U.S. Congress to fund drainage projects and roadwork in Ward 1.

&8220;The completion of the north Natchez drainage project &8212; I&8217;m beginning to see the start of that,&8221; Mathis said Thursday.

Along with demolishing blighted buildings, she plans to push more repair and drainage in her ward, especially in the area of Marblestone Road and Brookview Lane.

&8220;That would be the crown of these four years if we could get that drained,&8221; Mathis said.

James &8220;Rickey&8221; Gray, alderman for Ward 2, said he also plans to work on drainage and road reconstruction in his ward.

&8220;We&8217;ve just come from Washington, D.C., to get funding to try to put some sidewalks, curbs and gutters in,&8221; Gray said Friday.

Because he wants to see these projects finished, he said he will run for alderman again in 2008.

&8220;I feel like I started a job, and I&8217;m going to finish it,&8221; Gray said.

Bob Pollard, Ward 3, said he feels he has contributed to Natchez&8217;s health over the past few years.

&8220;When I decided to run, I wanted to be part of the team that brought Natchez back to prosperity,&8221; Pollard said, &8220;and I believe we&8217;re headed in that direction.&8221;

Pollard said he felt many positive things were happening in the city.

&8220;The overall pulse of the city is that the community is screaming for progress,&8221; he said.

As for whether he would run for office again in 2008, Pollard replied, &8220;Absolutely.&8221;

Theodore &8220;Bubber&8221; West of Ward 4 said he was proud to have been part of the team that helped revitalize Natchez as a tourist destination.

West said he plans to help improve Natchez citizens&8217; quality of life by bringing in things like a recreational center.

&8220;Over the next two years, you will be pleasantly surprised at what we&8217;re going to accomplish. Back in 1991, I started some things I wanted to get accomplished, and we&8217;re not through yet.&8221;

West said he will consider running again.

David Massey, alderman for Ward 5, said he is very proud of the things he and his colleagues have accomplished in the past few years.

Massey said he is proud of the new convention center and that he hopes to facilitate more development.

&8220;What I&8217;d really like to see happen in the next two years is to develop Roth Hill Road,&8221; Massey said. &8220;We&8217;ve developed that for another gaming vessel or business, or something for the community, a walking trail. Different things to bring people to the riverside.&8221;

Massey said he would like to take full advantage of federal money allocated to areas affected by Hurricane Katrina. He suggested using the money for city projects.

&8220;We have a leg up,&8221; Massey said. &8220;We can get government assistance.&8221;

Jake Middleton, Ward 6 alderman, said he thought the board had laid groundwork the first two years of the term, but they still had work to do.

Industrial development and recreation topped his list of priorities, he said. While planning for a recreational facility and scoping out new areas for industry, Middleton said, the board had a responsibility to use taxpayers&8217; money well.

&8220;We&8217;re always trying to find was to improve the city through programs,&8221; he said. &8220;But you have a certain amount you can spend. We have to be good keepers of the money. I think we&8217;ve overspent in some areas and some areas are understaffed. That&8217;s just my opinion.&8221;

Middleton said he was pretty sure he would run for mayor in 2008. If he decided not to, he said, he would run for reelection as an alderman.