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NATCHEZ — In a special meeting Monday evening, the Natchez Mayor and Board of Aldermen voted to change the date of the city’s upcoming municipal primary election from Tuesday, April 2, to Tuesday, April 9.

Natchez Mayor Dan Gibson said a runoff made necessary from the federal presidential primary election on Tuesday, March 12, makes the change necessary.

On the Republican side of the ticket, a runoff is necessary between Ronald Eller and Andrew S. Smith to choose who will be the Republican candidate to run for Mississippi’s Second District Congressional seat occupied by Democratic incumbent Bennie Thompson.

“Federal elections trump municipal elections, so we have to change the date for our election,” Gibson said.

He said the election commission could be ready to hold the municipal election on Tuesday, April 9. Aldermen voted unanimously to hold the election on that date.

Another wrench in plans is that the city’s first meeting in April is set for Tuesday, April 9, at 11 a.m., and the Council Chamber is a voting precinct.

Aldermen voted to move the first meeting in April to Thursday, April 11, at 11 a.m. to accommodate the April 9 election.