[2/1/04] The current mayor, two who formerly held the office, a former city department head, a member of the state Legislature and a current Warren County supervisor are among seven men who say they may be candidates for mayor next year.

The election is 17 months away.

Incumbent Mayor Laurence Leyens says he plans to seek a second term unless someone more qualified offers to serve.

“Then I would look at what’s in the best interest of the community,” Leyens said.

So far, Leyens, 39, said he hasn’t heard of any one better qualified who is planing to run against him.

Those who have said they are considering running include former mayors Robert Walker and Joe Loviza.

In the 2001 campaign, Leyens won 52 percent of the vote against incumbent Walker, Loviza and Eva Marie Ford, but Vicksburg voters have not returned an incumbent to the mayor’s office since 1988.

Walker, 59, who served two terms, from 1989 to 1993 and from 1997 to 2001, did not commit to running again, but said it was something he had not ruled out.

“Right now, I am focused on this current project,” Walker said.

Since leaving office, Walker has returned to teaching at Jackson State University and has served as chairman of the committee overseeing the installation of a monument in the Vicksburg National Military Park for black soldiers.

After the monument dedication on Feb. 14, Walker said, he may turn his attention to another bid for the mayor’s office.

Loviza, 63, who has also been teaching since the last election, said he has not made a final decision.

“I don’t know yet. That’s still a year and a half away,” Loviza said.

Warren County District 2 Supervisor Michael Mayfield said he is also considering running for mayor or North Ward alderman. Mayfield, 45, is in his third term on the county board, representing residents from the North Vicksburg and Eagle Lake areas.

“I’ve talked to a lot of people who are very encouraged about me running for one office or the other,” Mayfield said.

If Mayfield runs for North Ward alderman, he likely will face incumbent Alderman Gertrude Young, a three-term veteran of City Hall, who said she expects to seek that post again.

South Ward Alderman Sid Beauman said he will also probably seek a second term next year.

In the race for mayor, Mayfield, who has previously run as a Democrat, would possibly face Walker in the primary election. He could also face former candidate Eric Rawlings, a 40-year-old Home Depot employee and student who lost to Walker in the 2001 primary.

“I am running again,” Rawlings said.

Another possible candidate in the Democratic primary is Rep. George Flaggs, who has said he is considering leaving the Legislature to run for mayor.

“I’m very interested,” Flaggs said.

Flaggs, 49, has served four terms in the House and was elected to another term in November. After losing a bid for speaker pro tempore in the House, he said he might consider running for mayor.

Flaggs sought the Democratic nomination for mayor in 1997, but lost to Walker, who went on to win the general election.

Candidates have until 30 days before the party primaries to qualify for the municipal elections. Primary elections are in May and the general election is in June.

Both Leyens and Loviza have previously run as independent candidates, bypassing the party primaries. Another possible independent candidate will be former City Planner Ronnie Bounds.

Bounds, 52, worked for the city for 27 years before resigning in 2002 citing conflicts with the current administration. He said running for mayor is something he is considering, but has not fully committed to yet.

“It’s something that I’m thinking very seriously about,” Bounds said.

That leaves open the possibility of a four-way race in the general election, similar to three years ago. In the last race, Walker polled second with 43 percent of the vote, and Loviza came in third with 4 percent.