Candidates vying for Ackerman's highest office will square off tonight in a mayoral forum for the special election to be held on Dec. 19.
The free forum will begin at 6 p.m. at the Choctaw County Community Center and is open to the public. Refreshments will also be provided.
All four candidates who qualified for the non-partisan race will participate in the forum: Tim Cutts, Levon Murphy, Jr., Carl “Barney” Phelps and Dale Reid.
The winner of the special election will replace Dick Cain, who passed away in November at the age of 71 following a battle with pancreatic cancer.
Cain served three terms as the city's mayor.
Phelps, who serves as an at large alderman, has served as mayor pro tem during the interim leading up the election.
Candidates will give speeches and take questions from the audience.
Questions can be submitted at the door and dropped into a bucket to be randomly drawn and asked to the candidates or attendees may write a question down and ask the candidates during the forum.
The event is sponsored by The Choctaw County Chamber of Commerce and the Choctaw County Republican Party.