NATCHEZ — Two aldermen are pushing to get the restaurants of Natchez smoke free.

At the board’s regular meeting on Tuesday, aldermen James “Ricky” Gray and Bob Pollard both said they want to work toward a smoking ordinance.

Gray said Natchez is behind the times.

“I just feel all over the state of Mississippi and other states have already implemented a smoking ordinance,” he said. “We are some years behind. It seems like everything we do, we catch on a little late.”

Pollard said this is something he decided back in the campaign season that he would carry through if re-elected.

“I said, ‘If I win this election, I’m going to pursue the idea of establishing a non-smoking ordinance in restaurants because I don’t want to smell the smoke or smell like smoke when I leave a restaurant,’” he said.

Gray said he also wants to do it for health reasons.

“I feel if a person goes to a restaurant and doesn’t smoke, they should be able to enjoy their food,” Gray said. “Even you have an area for smokers, you still smell the smoke and you still inhale the smoke.

“If it’s involving someone’s health, it’s a no-brainer.”

Pollard said he’s seen it as a waning trend of restaurant smokers.

“Most people that smoke wait until they get outside to smoke anyway,” he said. “There are just a few that smoke in the restaurant, and I think it should be banned altogether.”

Pollard said some restaurants — such as Pearl Street Pasta — have already gone smoke free of the owner’s own volition.

“I don’t think it would hurt business at all. I think it would increase business.”

But the plan is to meet with restaurant owners, anyway.

Mayor Jake Middleton said a sit-down meeting with the owners is in order, that way the city can get the owners’ feel on an ordinance.

“We’re not going to force anything,” Middleton said.

But he said he thinks it’s a good idea.

Both Pollard and Gray said they want to enact a smoking ordinance right the first time and want to do research on other cities that have implemented such an ordinance.

Pollard said there are certain things to take into consideration, such as the Isle of Capri that allows smoking downstairs, but has a restaurant upstairs and restaurants that have bars.

Pollard said he wants the ball to start rolling on this ordinance immediately.

“We’re not going to wait on this,” Pollard said. “I’m going to pursue this full speed ahead, front burner.

“I think we’re past due.”