NATCHEZ — Campaign billboards for Cliff Cox, who has announced plans to run for sheriff, are in violation of city laws, the city planner says.

Natchez City Planner John “Rusty” Lewis said the current city ordinance regarding billboards, written approximately 20 years ago, prohibits the use of billboards for political and real estate advertisements.

Lewis said while other politicians in Natchez have used billboard advertisements, Cox’s are the first to elicit any complaints since he took office.

The mayor’s office recently received a letter signed “concerned citizens” pointing out the violation.

Cox, former commander of the Metro Narcotics Unit, said he had no personal involvement in the placement of the signs.

Instead, Cox said his election committee researched city ordinances regarding sign placement through Lamar Sign Co., which they are renting the billboard space from.

“The committee looked at the ordinances and did not feel there was any violation,” Cox said.

“And (Lamar) said they were not in violation of any ordinances.”

Cox campaign committee member Leo Joseph worked with Lamar employees, and former Natchez Aldermen David Massey in renting the billboard space.

“We have no reason to believe the signs are illegal,” Massey said.

Cox said had he known before the billboards were installed that they violated any ordinances, they would have not been installed.

And Cox’s committee was not alone in their interpretation of the city ordinance, which they say allows them to place the signs within city limits.

Middleton, who is aware of the situation but has not seen the letter, said he and City Attorney Everett Sanders believe the ordinance does permit the signs.

“We can’t find any violations,” Middleton said.

The paragraph, which outlines billboard regulations and placement within Natchez, ends with the sentence: “Real estate signs and political signs are excluded from this definition.”

Middleton and Sanders said they believe the preceding paragraph is not applicable to political and real estate billboards.

Lewis said he believes the sentence means political and real estate signs are not allowed at all in city limits.

“We can all agree that there’s a gray area,” Middleton said.

And Middleton readily admits he used a billboard within city limits to advertise his campaign as did fellow candidates Charles “Chick” Graning and Theodore “Bubber” West.

Middleton said though he has no power to order Cox to remove his billboards, he also has no plans to raise the issue with the Natchez Board of Aldermen.

The sheriff’s election is Nov. 3.