A candidates’ forum was cancelled in the planning stages because one mayoral candidate declined to attend. The Natchez-Adams County Chamber of Commerce had been planning a forum for both city clerk and mayoral candidates. With city clerk candidate JoeAnne Hicks dropping out of the race, the forum was down to the two mayoral candidates in the June 6 general election.

Democratic mayoral nominee F.L. &uot;Hank&uot; Smith said Tuesday he decided not to participate in the forum for the same reasons he did not participate in a chamber-sponsored debate before the May 16 primary runoff.

At that time, Smith said in a letter to the chamber that &uot;my door-to-door campaign was a big factor in my success in the primary, and I will continue to do so.&uot;

Smith said he had other commitments to voters and would not be able to attend the planned forum.

Smith’s opponent, independent Robert F. Costa, said he had planned to participate in the debate and wanted the chance to face Smith.

Chamber member Mike Thompson, who had been planning the forum, said Smith was &uot;well within his rights&uot; not to participate.

&uot;Personally, I think this is a great way for everyone to meet the candidates,&uot; said Thompson, who was out of town when the chamber held its first mayoral forum.

All five people who were running for mayor at the time participated in that forum before the first primary.

But Thompson said he has heard some complaints about the format for the candidates’ forums this year. He said that some people complained about the different questions asked of each mayoral candidate at a chamber lunch. &uot;I think that’s poor form,&uot; he said of the way a different question was asked of each candidate.

Thompson said he believes each candidate should have answered the same question.