Thursday evening Vicksburg voters had the chance to hear from the candidates for mayor and North and South Ward alderman posts at a community forum sponsored by Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Blacks in Government and the Warren County branch of the NAACP.

Forums offer voters the unique opportunity to hear from the candidates in person and ask questions about the issues that concern them.

The topics discussed Thursday night included stimulating economic development, the privatization of the city’s water treatment plant on Haining Road and the city charter.

As the May 2 primary election nears, Vicksburg voters will have multiple important decisions to make. This is a pivotal time in the city with a lot at stake for the future of the community.

Voting is not a responsibility to be taken lightly and going to the voting box fully informed on what the candidates want to accomplish is more important than ever. At forums like the one offered Thursday, voters have the chance to hear the candidates’ plans directly from them and compare them apples to apples with those offered by others.

Ideas for creating an atmosphere to improve economic development included recommendations for improving the city’s image, improving city streets and City Hall, and using the river as an engine to increase development.

The candidates were mixed on the privatization of the water treatment plant, with some candidates wanting to examine the contract before deciding if it was a good decision.

There will be a second forum for candidates for mayor and Northward Alderman Monday at Bethlehem M.B. Church at 6 p.m.

The two weeks remaining before the primary are a chance to reach out to the candidates to see where they stand on issues that are important to you, to ask questions that you need answered and make sure that you are fully informed when making the decision on who to vote for.

This election will set the course for Vicksburg’s future and shouldn’t be taken lightly.