NATCHEZ — Ward 4 Alderman Tony Fields was the first candidate to enter his name in the race for mayor when qualifying for Natchez’s 2016 municipal elections opened Monday.

In addition to serving as alderman, Fields is the principal at Natchez High School.

Races in the mix for this election cycle include mayor, the six aldermen seats and municipal judge. Qualifying will be ongoing through March 10 at the city clerk’s office.

Incumbents who qualified Monday include Ward 1 Alderwoman Joyce Arceneaux-Mathis and Ward 5 Alderman Mark Fortenbery.

In Ward 2, Billy Joe Frazier will seek the seat recently vacated by Rickey Gray and currently filled by interim Mary Lee Toles.

In Ward 4, Felicia Irving has qualified for Fields’ seat.

Attorney Carmen Brooks has qualified for the judge’s position.

The partisan primaries will be May 10 and runoffs, if needed, will be May 24.

The general election will be June 7.