Candidates voice opinions at forum

Staff Writer ADA — A full house was gathered as almost a dozen political candidates and representatives for candidates introduced themselves and spoke about their campaigns during Tuesday evening’s “Meet the Candidates” forum hosted by the Pontotoc County Farm Bureau Board of Directors and the Women’s Committee. Joe West, the forum’s Master of Ceremonies, estimated that the crowd was roughly 50 percent larger than those at previous installments of the biennial gathering. Before candidates addressed the audience, West asked that they adhere to forum guidelines; that each candidate speak within the ten minutes allotted, and that candidates refrain from criticizing one another as they presented their rhetoric. The forum started with candidates seeking the highest levels of office and worked its way to local levels. U.S.... [read full story]