Monticello Forum

The Daily Leader - Republicans plan forum for Third District candidates
- The contest for Mississippi's Third Congressional District seat in the U.S. House of Representatives continues next week as the Lawrence County Republican Party and the City of Monticello host a political forum for five of the seven Republican candidates. The forum will take place at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 28, at the Lawrence County Civic Center in Monticello. The five candidates committed to the event are Gregg Harper, of Pearl; John Rounsaville, of Madison; Gregory Hatcher, of Meridian; Billy Marcy, of Meridian; and James Broadwater, of Flowood. Madison's David Landrum and Charlie Ross, of Brandon, have prior commitments and will not be able to attend the forum. However, the two absent candidates will not go unrepresented - members of each man's staff will sit in at the forum. The forum in Monticello will allow questions to be posed from members of the audience, a method of debate that stems from the forum's conception. The Lawrence County forum will not only familiarize the public with the candidates' stances, but with the candidates themselves. Each candidate will be given five minutes at the beginning of the debate to give a biography - more than twice the time allotted for introductions during the Stennis debates. "We're looking at focusing this debate from a Southwest Mississippi angle, specifically from the counties of Lincoln, Lawrence and Jefferson Davis," Penny said. "I'm hoping we have some questions from our panelists and audience addressing the economic development issues for our area - we haven't had a lot of economic growth in this area in a number of years." Besides economic development, Penny said he believes the two most important issues facing the citizens of the Third Congressional District are immigration and the price of fuel. He said the candidates need to be able to address these issues. Penny said he expects at least 100 people to attend the forum.