The Oktibbeha County Republican Party will host an event on April 16 featuring all six Republican candidates running to represent Mississippi’s Third Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives.
The winner will replace Republican Congressman Greg Harper, who announced in January he would not seek a sixth term on Capitol Hill.
Oktibbeha County Republican Party Chairwoman Marnita Henderson told the Starkville Daily News that the forum will be question-and-answer style, and not a debate.
“There will be questions given and if people have questions, we want them submitted in advance, with six candidates, we don’t have much time,” Henderson said.
Henderson said each candidate will be given two minutes to speak.
Keith Heard, president of the lobbying firm Key Impact Strategies, will serve as the moderator.
Heard served as chief of staff for U.S. Sen. Thad Cochran, a Mississippi Republican, until January.
“They will be given two minutes to give an opening statement, but we haven’t decided how they will be seated,” Henderson said. “Then they will be able to give a short closing.”
The forum will feature: Sally Doty, Morgan Dunn, Michael Guest, Whit Hughes, Perry Parker and Katherine Tate.
“We’re really excited for Oktibbeha County and hope people come out and find out what (the candidates) stand for,” Henderson said. “Most of these people are not well known for people in this area, so we would like for everyone to come out.”
The forum will begin at 6 p.m. in the upstairs courtroom at the Oktibbeha County Courthouse.
To submit questions for the candidates, contact Henderson at marnita@oktibbehagop.org or 662- 418-4997