Political newcomer Tommy Wright has entered the race for mayor. Wright, 38, said he has never campaigned for public office before and said he was prompted to run for mayor due to myriad problems he says have been created in Vicksburg under Mayor Laurence Leyens.  

“I’m doing this to protect the citizens’ rights, that’s the main reason,” Wright said. 

Wright will compete in the Democratic primary on May 5 against former North Ward Alderman Gertrude Young, local attorney Paul Winfield and John Shorter, president of the Vicksburg chapter of the NAACP, and any others who file qualifying papers at City Hall before the March 6 deadline.

Mayoral candidates

• John Shorter, Paul Winfield, Tommy Wright and former Alderwoman Gertrude Young have filed papers to seek the Democratic nomination.

• Two-term mayor Laurence Leyens has said he will seek re-election as an independent, but has not filed paperwork.

Mayor Laurence Leyens has said he will seek his third term as an independent, but has yet to file qualifying papers. Independents and any Republican nominees will face the eventual Democratic nominee in the June 2 general election.

Among other things, Wright, who identified himself as a small-business owner, said the city has illegally been placing liens on citizens’ homes without due process.

The liens are for the cost of cutting grass or tearing down dilapidated structures. Wright said his first priority as mayor would be to revoke such property liens and clean up corruption in the city inspection department. Other priorities include clearing out clogs in the community court and creating more recreational facilities for the city’s youth, said Wright.

“I live in the heart of the community. I deal with our kids firsthand by having a family convenience store, and I think it’s a shame that there’s nothing for these kids to do in Vicksburg,” Wright said. “They should have a recreational center in each district.”

Both the North Ward and South Ward alderman positions will also be on ballots. New four-year terms will begin on July 1.

Wright said he does not believe any of the candidates he will face in the primary would make any real changes in the way the city is governed and would simply carry on the policies of the Leyens administration. While he is not affiliated with any local organizations or groups, Wright said he would likely donate a large portion of his salary as mayor to local charities and shelters. 

Born in St. Louis and raised in Vicksburg, Wright worked in commercial and residential construction for 20-plus years. Since 2000, Wright said he has assisted his family in operating Corner Pocket, a convenience store at 1401 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. that opened in 1998. He and his wife, Katina, have six children ages 2 to 15. Wright is working on a Web site to outline his campaign, and he said it should be launched soon. 

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Contact Steve Sanoski at ssanoski@vicksburgpost.com