FLOWOOD, Miss. (WJTV) - The City of Flowood will have a new mayor for the first time in more than 30 years. Mayor Gary Rhoads announced last November that he would not seek re-election.

Republican candidates Kathy Smith and Greg Wilcox are vying for the seat. Both have experience serving the city.

Smith is currently on Flowood's Board of Aldermen, where she has served for 16 years. In her first 100 days, Smith said a priority is to have a successful team.

"I think the first 100 days is going to be bare bones activity, making sure the right people are in the right places to get things accomplished," she said.

Wilcox spent 17 years at the city's Parks and Recreation director and eight years on the Rankin County Board of Supervisors. He wants to strengthen the relationship between the citizens and first responders.

"One of my first main hurdles is to get my police and my fire department into the schools, into the community," he said.

Raising taxes is not on either candidate's agenda.

"When I first went on the board, we had $8 million in our reserves and without raising taxes. And I'm the only candidate that can say that I've never raised taxes," said Smith.

“When I talk about taxes, yes, I do not plan on raising anybody's taxes. In fact, my my goal is to bring in so many unique types of businesses that we can lower taxes,” Wilcox stated.