Thirteen candidates running in contested local elections Nov. 4 have been invited to a forum set for 7 p.m. Thursday at Warren County Courthouse.
Candidates for the offices of circuit clerk, central district constable, circuit judge and seats representing Districts 3 and 4 on the Vicksburg Warren School District Board of Trustees will make presentations and answer questions from the public in the circuit courtroom, said Gertrude Young of the Vicksburg Alumnae chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, organizers of the forum. Circuit court is on the second floor of the courthouse.
Races for clerk and constable are special elections called by the county.
Five seek the office of circuit clerk, including interim clerk Greg Peltz. Challenging him are former school board member Jan Hyland Daigre, former Vicksburg police officer Robert Donohue, Department of Human Services paralegal A. Sharonda Taylor and Warren County Democratic Executive Committee chairman John Shorter.
Peltz was appointed to the office May 19 by county supervisors after jailed ex-clerk Shelly Ashley-Palmertree was removed from office.
Another appointed office holder, Vicksburg police Lt. Troy Kimble, is challenged for the central district constable seat by former Warren County sheriff’s deputy Mario Grady. Kimble was appointed by the county to succeed the late Randy Naylor.
Circuit Court Place 2 Judge M. James Chaney is opposed by Eddie Woods, the justice court judge for the county’s northern district.
On the school board, District 3 Trustee Jim Stirgus Jr. is opposed by Dr. John Walls, a former assistant superintendent for the school district. In District 4, incumbent Joe Loviza is opposed by Katrina Johnson, a substitute teacher in the district.
Young said invitations were also extended to Circuit Court Place 1 Judge Isadore Patrick and Chancery Court Judge Vicki Roach Barnes. Both are running unopposed this year.