Taxes and how money was spent over the past four years was the main topic of discussion at a Thursday night municipal candidate forum.

Speaking before about 50 members of the Wildwood Neighborhood Association, most of the candidates for Vicksburg’s three elected posts said they favored improvements made downtown, but not how the city has managed money. Most of the challengers also criticized the administration’s borrowing $17. 5 million to fund that and other projects.

“I have a problem with how this administration has spent money. They have not been held accountable,” said Charles Selmon, Democratic nominee for mayor.

Selmon, 44, is the Warren County District 3 supervisor and won the party’s nomination after a runoff last week. He also repeated his criticism of the reduced number of police officers under the current administration.

“New street light and bricks may line our streets, but crime is out of control,” he said.

Mayor Laurence Leyens, 41, an independent candidate seeking a second term, said the city has been responsible by paying off $12 million in debt, most from previous administration, over the past four years. He also said that public support has been behind the projects that were funded by the bond issues and pledged more work in neighborhoods if re-elected.

“We’re very committed to seeing these projects through, but the emphasis in the next four years will be a little different,” Leyens said.

Former Mayor Joe Loviza also said the city needed better fiscal management and pledged to again lower taxes as he did during his term between 1993 and 1996. Loviza, 65, is again running as an independent.

He also criticized plans to build a 14-story hotel along the Mississippi River.

“I think we ought to protect the view of the Mississippi River, not allow a hotel to block it,” Loviza said.

Shirley Smollen, Republican candidate for mayor, said the city should also use gaming revenue to offset the cost of utilities for citizens and lower property taxes. Smollen, 69, is seeking her first elected office.

“Tunica gets free gas and water and City Hall needs to help us with this,” Smollen said.

Tunica residents pay a $3 to $6 per month flat rate for water and use private suppliers for natural gas, according to the Tunica City Clerk’s Office.

The four remaining candidates for mayor will appear on the June 7 ballot in a winner-take-all race. In the general election, the winner is the candidate who gets the most votes and there is no runoff.

The City Clerk’s Office will be open until noon Saturday for absentee voting and the deadline to cast a ballot in advance of the election is June 4.

Mayoral candidates will also speak at the Chamber of Commerce membership luncheon on June 3 at Maxwell’s Restaurant. Reservations are required.

Other candidates seeking the city’s two alderman seats also said that money should have been spent more evenly across the city.

“Things that were done downtown needed to be done, but there are other projects that are equally important,” said Vickie Bailey, an independent candidate for North Ward alderman.

Warren County District 2 Supervisor Michael Mayfield, the Democratic nominee in the North Ward race, also said more needed to be done.

“There is some good going on we can’t deny that, but there are problems and we need to address them before they turn around and bite you,” Mayfield said.

South Ward Alderman Sid Beauman, a Republican seeking his second term, said that money along with a separate $5.8 million bond issue has gone into other areas.

“We’re putting fire hydrants and water lines in parts of the city that were annexed 15 years ago and the question is why are we having to do that now,” Beauman said.

Candidates were also asked about promises to lower taxes and how they planned to accomplish those goals. Some said by consolidating services and working with other state and county agencies, but none gave specific plans.

“I’m not going to sit here and tell you that I’ve got a plan to lower taxes because I think that’s just a sign of the times,” said Tommie Rawlings, an independent candidate for North Ward alderman.

Pam Johnson, Democratic nominee for the South Ward alderman’s seat, also reminded the audience of her appearance on the Oprah Winfrey show and said she plans to use that appearance to help Vicksburg.

“There’s probably not a celebrity or entertainer that I don’t know and that doesn’t recognize me,” Johnson said.

In the North Ward race, Bailey, 37, and Rawlings, 42, are both running as independent candidates. They will face Mayfield, 47, who defeat incumbent Gertrude Young in the party primary race.

Johnson, 39, is making her second bid for the South Ward seat and will again face Beauman, 57, who won his first elected term in 2001.

New terms begin July 4.