NATCHEZ — Mark Fortenbery won the Democratic run-off for Ward 5 alderman Tuesday night.

Fortenbery received 422 votes or 58.1 percent of the vote while opponent Frances Thompson Bailey received 304 votes or 41.9 percent, according to unofficial results.

Fortenbery had a victory party at his home after hearing the results. He thanked his supporters for standing behind him every step of the way.

“Everything worked out. The good Lord blessed us. We had a good day,” he said. “I want to thank the supporters and voters that came out today. They’re the ones that understood what I was trying to get across and I appreciate them from the bottom of my heart.”

Fortenbery also thanked his opponent for running a competitive campaign.

“All hats off to Ms. Bailey. She’s a sweet lady. I want to thank her for a good race and her hard work, and we both worked hard. It was hard on both of us,” he said.

Bailey too thanked her supporters, some of whom camped out under a blue tent outside the National Guard Armory to garner last minute voters.

“Today’s run-off I feel was a victory for me,” she said. “I want to thank everybody that got out and supported me and stood behind me any kind of way.”

Fortenbery will now face Republican Charles Zucarro in the June 3 general election. Zucarro said his campaign strategy is simple.

“(I’ll) get out and beat on some more doors,” he said.

He spent most of Tuesday campaigning outside the National Guard Armory.

“I told them who I was and asked them to come out and vote in two weeks in the general election,” Zucarro said.

Fortenbery said he will also continue his door-to-door campaign strategy.

“Knocking on doors seems to work best,” he said. “I guess we’ll go to round three.”