Former Mayor Joe Loviza will again be a candidate for the city’s highest elected office despite losing in his last two attempts.

Loviza, 65, filed Monday to run as an independent. His name will appear on the June 7 general election ballot along with that of Laurence Leyens, 40, and the winners of primary races.

So far, Eric Rawlings, 42, and John Shorter, 38, have filed to compete for the democratic nomination in the May 3 primary race. Warren County District 3 Supervisor Charles Selmon has also pledged to be a candidate in that primary and said he planned to file this morning.

The deadline to file is at 5 p.m. Friday.

Loviza, a career educator and former dean of the Vicksburg branch of Hinds Community College, served at the helm of the city from 1993 to 1997 after unseating then-Mayor Robert Walker after Walker’s first full term. Walker came back in 1997 to defeat Loviza’s efforts for a second term and Loviza again lost to Leyens in 2001.

Despite winning 4 percent of the vote the last time out, Loviza says he feels good about his chances.

“I’m not 100 percent sure ever that I’m going to win, but I always approach it with an open mind,” Loviza said.

During his administration, the city issued bonds for the construction of the $13 million Vicksburg Convention Center, $1.7 million city swimming pool and the $1.8 million police department. The city also acquired several properties, including the downtown Neil Building adjacent to City Hall and the Southern Cultural Heritage Center.

Loviza said he is concerned about the “dignity of the city work force” and emphasizing more basic services of the city, including police and fire departments.

“We’re all in this thing together. I just think there’s enough interest in a change,” Loviza said.

When Loviza last sat in the mayor’s office, the salary for that position was $56,532, but today, after raises were approved in 2002 by the current administration, the salary is $73,500. Aldermen’s pay also went from $45,492 to $58,000.

With less than a week to go to the end of the qualifying period, six candidates have filed to run for the North Ward alderman’s seat, but only the incumbent, Sid Beauman, 57, a Republican, has filed in the South Ward.

North Ward Alderman Gertrude Young, 49, is trying for her fourth term and will face Warren County District 2 Supervisor Michael Mayfield, 47, and Rodney Dillamar, 45, in the Democratic primary election. The winner of the nomination will go on to face independent candidates Vickie Bailey, 36, and Tommie Rawlings, 41, and the winner of the Republican primary.

So far, only Carl Yelverton, 58, has filed to run in the North Ward as a Republican and would move on to the general election if he remains unchallenged.