Candidates for the upcoming June 2018 primary will get one of their first chances to share their platforms Monday with constituents at a candidates forum hosted by the Pike County NAACP.

“We’re having it early to get the voters involved to get them out to vote,” said Diana Bascomb, president of the Pike County branch. “We had a low turnout at the recent primaries and it was even lower during the runoff. Hopefully, this initial forum will get voters involved and motivated for the election.”

Bascomb said the NAACP branch plans to host another forum in March or April of 2018 as the primary gets closer.

Former State Rep. Steve Flowers will moderate the forum.

“The candidates will be allowed two minutes to introduce themselves and present their platforms,” Bascomb said. “Then Mr. Flowers will present questions from the community. Residents can enter their questions as they come into the courthouse.”

Bascomb said questions will also be taken at Saturday’s meeting of the local NAACP and can be emailed to the organization or sent via their social media platforms.

With qualifying not yet finalized, Bascomb said the organization has reached out to as many known candidates as possible.

The forum will begin at 6 p.m. at the Pike County Courthouse and is scheduled to end at approximately 8:30 p.m. Monday, October 16.