The fourth and final debate between the candidates vying to fill Mississippi’s 3rd Congressional District seat will be held Monday night at Lee Hall Auditorium. Republican incumbent Chip Pickering chose not to run for re-election. The debate is sponsored by the Stennis-Montgomery Association.
Doors will open at 6 p.m., and the debate will begin at 7 p.m.
Democrats Randy Eads of Starkville and Joe Gill of Pickens will join Republicans James Broadwater of Flowood, Gregg Harper of Pearl, Gregory Hatcher of Meridian, David Landrum of Madison, Bill Macy of Meridian and John Rounsaville of Madison for the two-hour debate in the 1,000-seat auditorium.
Republican Charlie Ross of Brandon will be the only candidate not in attendance.
The Clarion-Ledger perspective editor Sid Salter will moderate the debate.
Asking the candidates questions will be Starkville Daily News editor Brian Hawkins and WCBI-TV news anchor Aundrea Self.
Hawkins said the debate will be beneficial to voters considering the current political climate.
“With this debate, [voters] will see more real issue discussion,” Hawkins said. “This debate will be very important because there is a lot of substance out there.”
The 3rd Congressional District candidates will face similar questions and issues the current presidential candidates are wading through, Self said.
“The same issues keep coming up,” she said. “People want to know about these candidates’ stances on immigration, health insurance and the economy.”
Both Hawkins and Self said they have been polling their respective audiences for questions to ask during the debate.
Self said she is hoping for a strong audience turnout at the debate.
“I hope people will come out,” Self said. “This isn’t as high-profile as the gubernatorial debate was, but our representatives in Washington D.C. are just as important as the man who sits in Jackson.”
In conjunction with sponsoring the debate, the Stennis-Montgomery Association will also hold a voter registration drive outside of the Lee Hall Auditorium.
Due to Mississippi registration laws and the time of registration, visitors registering to vote will not be able to vote in the March 11 primary but will be able to cast their ballot in the Nov. 4 general election.
MSU director of university relations Maridith Geuder said the Stennis-Montgomery Association’s efforts will help students to make informed decisions in the state primary and general election.
“This is a continuation of promoting public awareness and education to students in particular,” Geuder said. “The debate will allow students to hear from the candidates directly and help them to become aware of the issues while the voter registration drive will allow them to actually participate.”
A shuttle service will be provided to visitors attending the debate.
Busses will be running from the Humphrey Coliseum parking lot to Lee Hall beginning at 6 p.m.
Other options are available for people who cannot attend the debate.
While WMSV-FM 91.1 will broadcast the debate live, streaming coverage can be found online at www.wmsv.msstate.edu and www.msstate.edu.
For more information about the debate, contact the Stennis Institute at 325-3328.