Plans for a political forum sponsored by Leaders Improving the Future of Effingham and the Effingham Herald have been finalized.

“Bringing our political candidates before the public is our goal in sponsoring this forum,” said Alan Zipperer, president of LIFE. “We invite and urge citizens to take advantage of this opportunity to see and hear the candidates on a personal basis.”

The forum will be held on July 1, at 7 p.m. at South Effingham High School.

The candidates will be questioned by a panel of local citizens. Questions will run the gamut from particulars to the specific office duties of the office but also include questions about their position on vital issues to the county.

The forum will be moderated by Warren Ratchford. Citizens making up the panel to present the questions to the various candidates are: Gusssie Nease, chairperson, Effingham Democratic Party; Mickey Kicklighter, chairperson, Effingham Republican Party; Karen Tanksley, publisher, Effingham Herald; Wayne Hodgin, editor, Effingham Now.

Candidates will be given an opportunity for opening and closing statements and where appropriate will be given a rebuttal time in response to opposing candidates answers to questions.

Citizens are invited to send in proposed questions for consideration for inclusion. Questions should be sent to: EffinghamLife@windstream.net, no later than June 23.

Candidates invited to participate in the forum are: for sheriff — Jimmy McDuffie, Rick Gossett; for tax commissioner — Linda McDaniel, Frank Arden, Lisa Wright.

All unopposed candidates and those yet to announce for the non-partisan positions for the November ballot are invited to attend. They will be introduced but not asked questions.