With three debates in the next two weeks, the campaign for thenewly-created Third District congressional post is about to getserious.

Republican Rep. Chip Pickering and Democrat Rep. Ronnie Showswill debate Aug. 1 at the Neshoba County Fair. The big pavilion onthe fairgrounds is not even in the Third District, but the fair hasbeen home to some great political ‘stumping’ over the years.

The first debate before district voters will be Monday, Aug. 5,at 6 p.m. at the Brookhaven High School auditorium. The candidateswill meet again on Aug. 6, at 11:30 a.m. at the Lawrence CountyCivic Center. We hope citizens in the area will take advantage ofthe chance to see the candidates face-to-face and hear what theyhave to say. And, don’t be afraid to ask them about issues thatconcern you.

Most in the area are familiar with Shows, who served as atransportation commissioner before being elected to Congress fromthe Fourth District. Pickering, the current Third Districtrepresentative, saw his territory combined with Shows’ whenMississippi lost a Congressional seat due to the 2000 census.

With Mississippi’s congressional delegation cut from fiverepresentatives to four, it is more important than ever that voterslearn all they can about the candidates.

Look at this way . . . the size of the choir is going to besmaller. We’ve got to make certain we send the best singers toWashington.