VIDALIA — People were in the chairs, but one thing was missing at the candidate’s forum Tuesday night — candidates.

Sponsored by First Natchez Radio Group, the goal of the forum was to introduce the candidates to the public.

But when it came time for the forum to begin, only seven candidates made an appearance — the two candidates for judge, the three running for district attorney, a constable candidate and one running for justice of the peace.

All of the candidates in contested races in Concordia and Catahoula Parish were invited to the forum, and those who were present were kept in a separate room while their opponents spoke, moderator Sheri Rabb said.

Each candidate was given two minutes to introduce himself or herself, and then they had to answer two questions.

The candidates for seventh judicial district judge division “A” spoke about their plans to eradicate the district’s drug problem, and what they would do to leave a legacy as a role model.

Each drug case is different, candidate John Reeves said.

“Possibly, with the first time offenders with only light (drug) use, maybe drug rehabilitation is in order, whereas with repeat drug offenders, I think their punishment should be more harsh,” he said.

Incumbent Judge Kathy Johnson said most crimes are related to drugs, and she has been working to get an adult drug court for some time.

The drug court program is like an intense probation, where offenders have to receive treatment, see a probation officer weekly and pass a drug screen every week, Johnson said.

All three of the district attorney candidates have expressed interest in the program, which would be considered additional work on top of other duties of the judge, to her, Johnson said.

“It is going to be extremely taxing, I know, but I am willing to do the work,” Johnson said.

Reeves said the legacy he would leave behind would be one of familiarity with the community.

“I would like to go into the schools and develop a rapport with the kids before they develop a problem with drugs,” he said.

The legacy Johnson wants to leave behind is one of fairness, regardless of the political consequences, she said.

“I will do what is right, what is fair,” she said. “I will make decisions based on the law.”

The candidates for district attorney were asked what the biggest challenge facing the district attorney’s office is and what they will do to keep the office independent.

Candidate Andy Magoun said the biggest challenge would be restoring integrity to the office and getting it away from the routine mechanics of how things have operated for years.

“I think you have to motivate people to get involved in the system by jury duty or coming forward as witnesses,” he said.

“A lot of people have lost faith in the system.”

He would keep the office independent of outside influences simply by being there, Magoun said.

“Too many times in the past, the district attorney was out of the office and relied on others to make decisions,” he said.

But that doesn’t mean he wouldn’t extend professional courtesy to other agencies if they have a recommendation for a case.

“Send it in writing,” Magoun said. “I will consider it.”

The biggest challenge candidate Brad Burget sees will be changing a culture of apathy in which some cases were ignored because some people weren’t working.

“The district attorney needs to be there,” Burget said. “Assistant district attorneys need to be screening their own cases. When an assistant district attorney is screening out cases, they can weed out the bad cases.”

It is important to keep any outside influence out of the office, but it is also important to work with law enforcement, Burget said.

“Any influence from outside should not be tolerated,” he said. “The sheriff investigates. He does not prosecute. Neither does the chief of police.”

However, there should be a level of transparency between the offices, Burget said.

“The right hand and the left hand have got to know what they other is doing, but they have got to maintain that independence.”

For candidate Ronnie McMillin, the biggest challenge would be regaining the confidence of the people in the district.

He would do so by removing politics from decisions, he said.

“By removing that from the equation, I can return (the office) to doing the right thing,” McMillin said.

He would maintain the office’s independence by being his own man, McMillin said.

“You do that by not obliging yourself or by tying yourself to people,” he said. “What you’re feeling about someone personally has nothing to do with how you do your job.”

District 3 justice of the peace candidate Juanita Irvin and third district constable candidate Susan Rabb also spoke at the forum.

Her experience as a teacher has taught her to be fair but also when to listen, Irvin said.

“I am a good listener and I don’t mind working for people,” she said.

“My life has been preparing me for this job.”

Susan Rabb said that the requirements of the constable post are to do whatever the justice of the peace delegates to her.

“If someone needs to be evicted, that’s what I do; if someone needs a car title changed, there are tasks I have with that,” she said.

The election is Oct. 4.