VICKSBURG — Mayor George Flaggs Jr. is leaving the Democratic Party, The Vicksburg Post reports.

“As of March 20, I’m going to declare myself to the clerk of the city and the Secretary of State that I’ll be considered an independent,” he said Monday.

“What that will allow me to do is be more effective in representing Democrats and Republicans in the future, and if I determine to run for re-election, I’ll only have to run in the general election and I won’t have to run in the primaries any more.

“Politics is flexible, and you have to be ahead of the curve,” Flaggs said. “And you want to be successful, and I have every intention of representing Vicksburg in the way I can be the most effective.”

Flaggs’ announcement came about two hours before U.S. Sen. Thad Cochran, R-Miss., announced he is resigning his seat for health reasons.

Flaggs has indicated an interest in possibly running for lieutenant governor and mentioned at one time in February he has been asked by some people to seek a third term as mayor.