The candidates were there, but few voters braved Tuesday’s cold, damp weather to stump for a forum at LeTourneau Volunteer Fire Department, where three-minute speeches were given and questions were fielded from about a dozen citizens.

Besides standard themes and talking points, making Warren County attractive to both industry and families was an oft-repeated theme throughout, with a few other topics.

House District 54 candidates put education and job creation as key issues in the race.

“We have a duty-free port which we do not advertise well enough,” Republican nominee Alex Monsour said, adding he was the most qualified candidate “at sitting one-on-one” with business interests to recruit jobs.

In stressing education, independent Thomas Setser emphasized funding reading programs and Democrat Jennifer Thomas spoke of raising teacher salaries.

“How long do you think Nissan is going to stay in Mississippi if we don’t give them skilled workers?” Setser said.

Thomas took issue with opponents’ stances that education in the state was “broken.” Raising teacher pay to alleviate what she termed a “morale problem” in the state’s public schools will be a priority, she said.

House District 55 candidates continued bashing each other over residency, as Rick McAlister took aim at Rep. George Flaggs, D-Vicksburg.

Flaggs, 54, is still registered to vote in District 55 but has maintained a residence outside the district for several years.

McAlister, 54, also spoke of the lack of a state-funded burn and trauma center and Flaggs’ level of commitment on funding one. When an irate Flaggs came up to speak, he spoke of his own father’s death after an explosion at Vicksburg Chemical Company in 1993.

“I’ll never question another man’s character as long as I live,” Flaggs said.

Spirited debate was generated with candidates in three local races.

Neither Tax Assessor Richard Holland nor challenger Pat Ring appeared in person. Deputy Tax Assessor Jim Agent distributed campaign literature for Holland and spoke briefly in Holland’s stead. Responding to questions concerning notifying taxpayers of pending changes in their property taxes — something not now done — Agent said it too cost-prohibitive to request supervisors fund such an operation. Agent estimated the annual cost of sending notices at about $7,000.

Ring has said he would find money for the notices, which some Mississippi counties provide. Otherwise, the only way for property owners to learn valuations have changed before the formal protest period ends is to make an inquiry.

Candidates for district attorney framed the race as experience versus aggressiveness, as incumbent Gil Martin and challenger Ricky Smith appeared.

Martin, 63, emphasized the 7,500 cases prosecuted during his 16 years in office and extensive community involvement, and referenced Smith’s switch from independent status during his 2003 race against Martin to Democrat this year.

“It’s not about party. It’s more about getting the job done,” Martin said.

Smith, 48, repeated charges that Martin has not been aggressive enough in prosecuting cases, adding only 238 cases out of more than 600 cases before grand juries in the past year resulted in felony convictions.

“We can’t have that,” Smith said.

A wide range of issues from the future of the U.S. 80 bridge to the prospect of land usage regulations was on the table when District 4 supervisor candidates took their turns.

Republican C.L. “Buddy” Hardy advocated some type of action on the bridge in the next administration, “whether as a tourist attraction or not,” he said. Hardy also said private roads — albeit not owned by the county and thus not subject to county maintenance — should be improved.

Former supervisor Bill Lauderdale touted his ability as a “consensus builder” between city and county officials. He came out in support of cleaning burned and blighted properties as part of a land use plan only if more support can be generated from the public to do so.

District 4 Supervisor Carl Flanders said a second term for him would represent progress, adding he would continue to push for ordinances banning signs and placards on county rights-of-way and for adopting the International Property Maintenance Code.

Building codes and other issues in the race for commissioner of insurance took center stage as both Republican Sen. Mike Chaney and Democrat Gary Anderson were in Vicksburg.

Addressing the Vicksburg Kiwanis Club, Chaney talked up his push for getting counties and cities to adopt up-to-date versions of the IPMC after Hurricane Katrina decimated the Gulf Coast in 2005. He also stressed the importance of keeping insurance companies in the state, given Mississippi’s market share with most policy writers.

“If you can’t insure it, you can’t finance it. If you can’t finance it, you can’t build it,” he said, repeating a campaign theme.

Anderson, 51, appeared at the LeTourneau forum. The former state fiscal officer told attendees he would lower insurance rates and apply “downward pressure” to insurance companies who looked to raise premiums. He also touted his endorsement by the Hattiesburg American.

Later Tuesday, nine local and statewide Democratic candidates for office met at City Pavilion for a “meet-and-greet” sponsored by the Warren County Democratic Executive Committee.

Chairman Mary Katherine Brown said the rain-shortened event drew about 30 people and included Anderson, gubernatorial candidate John Arthur Eaves, commissioner of agriculture candidate Rickey Cole, state auditor candidate Mike Sumrall and public service commission candidate Lynn Posey.

Local candidates who attended, said Brown, were Tax Assessor Richard Holland, Ricky Smith, District 5 supervisor candidate Frank Gardner and Central District constable candidate Randy Naylor.