Those Lowndes County residents who haven”t had the chance to decide who to vote for in the Aug. 2 primaries will get another chance to hear from candidates on Tuesday and Thursday night.
The Columbus-Lowndes Political Action Committee is hosting a candidate forum on Tuesday and Thursday, beginning at 6 p.m. each night at the Columbus Municipal Complex. Candidates running as Democrats or Republicans will answer three questions each, with a three-minute time limit per question.
Questions were compiled from local media, CLOPAC members and community leaders.
“This is a question-answer forum, and in order to allow enough time for each candidate, we”re splitting it (into two nights),” said Beth Stuart, CLOPAC chairwoman.
Tuesday night will feature candidates for supervisor, chancery clerk and justice court judge, though justice court judges will not be asked questions. Each judicial candidate will have three minutes to make a presentation, Stuart said.
Thursday night will feature candidates for sheriff, superintendent and county attorney.
Though only Democratic and Republican candidates who are facing opponents in the primary will speak at the forum, CLOPAC plans to host a similar event before the general election, Nov. 8.
“We have been active in the community for a little less than 10 years now, and I do believe that we have made a difference in helping the voters become more informed,” said Stuart, also noting CLOPAC was instrumental in getting Columbus City Council meetings broadcast on TV.
“We do encourage everybody to come out and see the forum,” she added.
The CLOPAC candidate forum will be broadcast live on CableOne Channel 3. It will replay on Channel 3, the following week, Wednesday-Sunday, from 7-9 p.m.
Mississippi State University Journalist in Residence Sid Salter will facilitate the forum.
Established in 2003, CLOPAC was formed to provide “a way for local citizens to have an impact on the political issues affecting our community,” according to its mission statement.
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