It is a little over two weeks before Mississippians will head to the polls and cast their ballot for a number of races, along with voting on three initiatives. In the past couple of weeks organizations have hosted small candidate forums throughout Bolivar County and now one will take place at Delta State University.

On Tuesday, beginning at 7 p.m., the Rho Alpha Alpha and Upsilon Delta Delta chapters of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., will be hosting a forum for candidates from the local level to the state level at Jobe Hall Auditorium on the campus of DSU.

Tredrick Johnson, Omega alumnus and chair of the event, said this is part of their political action program.

“The purpose is to bring about political awareness within the community of Bolivar County,” he said.

Johnson said the forum will not be a debate, wherein candidates will not offer rebuttals throughout the night.

“Mr. Sammy Carter, longtime Cleveland resident and member of the fraternity is going to ask questions that the fraternity has composed based upon community concerns,” Johnson said. “Audience members, before they enter the auditorium, will be allowed to submit a question and from those questions each candidate will get one wild card question — one not previously sent to the candidate. Opposing candidates will also answer the wild card question.”

He added, “You’re not going to have two candidates going back and forth. It will be a forum.”

Local candidates who have confirmed to be there, according to Johnson, include both candidates for sheriff of Bolivar County, Kelvin Williams (D) and Robert Sanders (I); both candidates for coroner of Bolivar County, Dr. Nate Brown (D) and Kenny Williams (I); three candidates for Bolivar County Supervisor District 3, Preston Billings (D), Linda Stout-Coleman (I) and Dorothy King-Grim (I); both candidates for State Sen. District 22, Buck Clarke (R) and Boo Hollowell (D); both representatives for State House District 28, David Dallas (D) and Tommy Taylor (R); and both candidates for State Sen. District 13, Willie Simmons (D) and Clayton Barksdale (I).

Johnson also said that Hattiesburg Mayor Democratic nominee for governor Johnny DuPree will be there or have a representative there. He said the same for Lt. Gov. Phil Bryant, the Republican nominee for governor.

“We want everyone to come out and listen to what the candidates have to say in these different races," Johnson said.

Jobe Hall holds roughly 300 people and Johnson believes it will be standing room only so he suggests showing up early.

On Thursday, the Bolivar County Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc., will hold two public forums — one in Cleveland and the other in Mound Bayou.

At 6:30 p.m., the Cleveland forum will be focused on “The Consequences of Political Apathy.” It will be held at the New St. Phillip Church at 515 Ruby St. In Mound Bayou, the forum will be a meet and greet with candidates for Bolivar County Supervisor District 3 and for the Mound Bayou School Board Trustee race. The forum will begin at 6 p.m. at the Mt. Olive M.B. Church, 104 E. Martin Luther King.