NATCHEZ &045;&045; Presidential candidates may be ignoring Mississippi and its few electoral votes, but Armstrong Library is planning a political forum to bring issues to the forefront for local residents.

On Tuesday, Oct. 26, the library will host a forum with local Democrats and Republicans, who will answer residents’ questions about the presidential race and their respective candidates. The forum is free and open to the public and begins at 6 p.m. at the library.

&uot;Since Mississippi is not considered a ‘swing’ state, there has not been much activity here from the presidential campaigns,&uot; said Susan Cassagne, library director. &uot;We thought Natchez residents might appreciate an opportunity to ask questions of both sides.&uot;

Each local party will have four representatives at the forum. The Democratic side will include Adams County Supervisor Darryl Grennell and Copiah-Lincoln Community College instructor Jim Wiggins, while the Republicans will have executive committee member Johnny Junkin and county chairman Sue Stedman on hand.

Adams County Circuit Clerk M.L. &uot;Binkey&uot; Vines will begin with remarks about voting, and Cassagne will moderate the forum.

Members of the audience will be invited to submit written questions for each side. The questions will be asked of each party, said Casey Hughes, library administrative assistant.

Hughes said library officials won’t time the party members’ answers unless things get out of hand.

&uot;We’re trying to keep it loose,&uot; she said.

The most important thing, she said, is that residents &045;&045; and voters &045;&045; get the information they want about the candidates. The American Library Association has encouraged local libraries to provide information about the presidential race to patrons.

Hughes pointed out that the library also has many other resources on the presidential candidates that library patrons can use to help make their decision.