With a special election to select a new representative for House District 54 now less than a month away, voters living in the district that covers portions of Vicksburg and Warren County have a unique opportunity to get a good look at the candidates seeking to finish the unexpired term of former Rep. Alex Monsour.

Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Alumni, Blacks in Government and the Vicksburg Chapter of the NAACP will have a candidate forum Oct. 26 at 6 p.m. in the circuit courtroom on the second floor of the courthouse to give voters an opportunity to press the candidates on the issues that affect them and the district.

Three candidates have qualified for the election — Vicksburg contractor Joe Bonelli, Dr. Randy Easterling and Kevin Ford of the Ford Insurance Agency. All three have their own thoughts about how to represent the district, and each will have a specific platform of things they want to see accomplished, things they want to see continue, and state regulations they may want to change.

We have several serious issues in Mississippi — funding for education, health care for adults and children, employment and job training and funding for eroding roads and infrastructure. It’s important voters find out where each candidate stands on those issues and others before going to cast ballots Nov. 7.

That’s what makes this forum so important. People have a right to know where the person who may represent them in Jackson stands and whether they are the right person to represent not only the district, but Warren County as a whole.

Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Alumni, Blacks in Government and the Vicksburg Chapter of the NAACP understand how important this election is, and that’s why they scheduled this forum to give the people and the candidates to come out and meet face-to-face and discuss the issues. Every election cycle, whether for a regular or special election, these three groups have taken it upon themselves to conduct these forums, and we applaud them for the civic-mindedness and their interest and concern for good government.

Oct. 26 is almost two weeks away. Mark your calendars and make it a point to attend this forum. The worst thing someone can do outside of not voting is voting for someone they know nothing about.