NATCHEZ — Seven of the eight candidates for sheriff are scheduled to participate in a forum at 6 tonight.

The public is invited and encouraged to attend the event at the Natchez Convention Center.

Only Randy Freeman will be absent, coordinator Frances Bailey said, due to a prior family commitment. Representatives from his campaign were invited to attend.

The forum has been organized by the Adams County Democratic Committee, but is a non-partisan event, Bailey said.

Each candidate will first introduce himself and explain his platform. Then three moderators will ask the candidates three or four questions pre-written by the Democratic Committee.

The moderators are Wilbert Johnson, Casey Hughes and Thomas McNeely.

Members of the public who attend can submit questions in writing at the door. Their questions will be screened during the forum and passed on to the moderators. The moderators will read questions from the public at the end of the forum.

Bailey said the event will not last more than two hours, and the number of questions from the public will depend on the time available.

“We want it to be run clean; we want it to be run fair,” Bailey said. “It doesn’t matter whether you are a Democrat, Republican or Independent, we want the candidates to show what they have to offer.”

Bailey said the Democratic Committee decided several months ago to sponsor tonight’s event as a service to the community.

“We want to give the voters a chance to look at the candidates and make up their own minds,” she said.

Candidates participating had to pay a $30 registration fee.

The candidates for sheriff are, Natchez Police investigator Danny Barber, former Adams County sheriff’s deputy and current Adams County Constable Ray Brown, former director of the Metro Narcotics Unit Cliff Cox, head of the NPD’s Criminal Investigations Department Sgt. Craig Godbold, Adams County Sheriff’s deputy Randy Freeman, Adams County Youth Court Administrator and former deputy Chuck Mayfield, former NPD officer Roosevelt Owens Jr. and wildlife and fisheries game warden Greg Wisner.