A choice for a county-appointed seat on the Vicksburg Convention and Visitors Bureau board was retracted Tuesday by District 4 Supervisor Carl Flanders who said he plans to nominate local restaurateur David Day Thursday.

Flanders said his earlier choice, Duff Green Mansion operator Harry Sharp, would be withdrawn because of a lease between Sharp and the VCVB.

In June, Sharp, who owns other real estate downtown, agreed to house VCVB’s operations on a temporary basis at one of his properties on Washington Street.

That move was prompted by the January collapse of the old Thomas Furniture building on Clay Street, which at the time was believed to threaten the stability of the VCVB’s offices at 1221 Washington.

In e-mails Monday and Tuesday among Flanders, Sharp and others, Flanders said his retraction was done &#8220with reluctance,” yet, after consulting with the state Ethics Commission and legal counsel, he decided the move was &#8220in the best interest of my constituency, the tourism industry and the community as a whole.”

For his part, Sharp said he offered the use of his building at 1300 Washington St., which for a short time housed Downtown Designs Fabrics & Interiors, &#8220to help them (VCVB) out of a difficult situation. That time has long passed and the lease agreement could be terminated at any moment. Therefore, I am quite surprised at the outcome.”

According to the correspondence, Sharp said he was assured by the local representatives on the recently formed Mississippi Hospitality and Restaurant Association and Mayor Laurence Leyens that his earlier contact with the VCVB was &#8220temporary and pre-existing” and no conflict of interest existed because he did not participate in any decisions on the matter.

Sharp also said it was &#8220unfortunate” the issue couldn’t be resolved by an opinion letter from the Attorney General, which could have been sought by supervisors. An obstacle there would be Flanders making the motion. He’s president of the county board and there’s an unwritten rule that motions cannot be made by board presidents.

Day, an Indiana native, moved to Vicksburg about two years ago and established Horseface Harry’s on Halls Ferry Road with his wife, Rhonda. In 2005, the couple purchased the Klondyke on North Washington Street.

&#8220He is a sound nominee who has had an enormous amount of experience in the restaurant business,” Flanders said.

Though not a member of the local restaurant association, Day did return a questionnaire from the Vicksburg Warren Community Alliance’s tourism council. Lists generated by the self-formed group have produced the last four additions to the city-county board charged with support and development of the tourism industry.

Of the 11 members, five are city appointees, five are county appointees and one person is jointly appointed. Terms are four years and commission members are not paid.

If Day is confirmed Thursday, the lone vacancy is to be filled by District 2 Supervisor William Banks, who also wins a board majority.

Banks has previously nominated former city appointee Bobbie Bingham Morrow, who did not have an Alliance endorsement and did not win board approval. Banks has said his choice will not come from an Alliance list, saying the grassroots group has no authority except what it claims for itself.

The District 2 seat was held by Bobby Doyle, who resigned.

The Alliance is a self-formed group that has favored more VCVB seats being filled by owners and operators of local tourism-related enterprises. Its position has been that Morrow, a federal employee, and others were not responsive to their advice.