VIDALIA — He may not be a native son, but he is an honorary citizen, and Gov. Bobby Jindal will be in Vidalia today.

The governor will host a town hall meeting at the Vidalia Conference and Convention Center, starting at 11:30 a.m.

During that time, Jindal will field questions from the public, Mayor Hyram Copeland said.

“We want to emphasize that the general public is invited,” he said. “This gives them an opportunity to meet the governor and discuss the issues with him.”

Though this is the governor’s first visit to the area since taking office, this is Jindal’s ninth visit to Vidalia, including when he was campaigning and during his term as a U.S. Congressman.

“He came through before, but because we weren’t his district, naturally we didn’t get to meet him as much as we do now,” Copeland said.

In recent weeks, Jindal has hosted a number of town hall meetings across the state, and especially in rural areas, Copeland said.

“When he was running (for governor), he made a commitment he would come back, and we are elated he is coming to Vidalia,” Copeland said.

Jindal will fly into the area by helicopter, and the meeting will last between an hour and an hour-and-a-half, Copeland said.

During Jindal’s gubernatorial campaign in October, Copeland presented him with a plaque declaring him an honorary citizen of Vidalia.