Jackson Free Press

On the eve of what well could be another squeaker of a presidential election, the Millsaps College Arts & Lecture series is bringing two prominent Mississippi politicos to the stage to present their views on the upcoming election. Former governor Ray Mabus and Congressman Chip Pickering will appear Tuesday, Oct. 26 at 7:30 p.m. in the Recital Hall of the Ford Academic Complex on the Millsaps College campus to offer their analyses of this year's presidential election.

Mabus, a native of Choctaw County, was the youngest governor in the nation during his 1988–92 term of office. A graduate of Ole Miss, Johns Hopkins and Harvard, he is a U.S. Navy veteran and also served Mississippi as state auditor. Mabus was appointed U.S. ambassador to Saudi Arabia by President Clinton, serving from 1994–96.

Congressman Pickering is serving his fourth term and is vice chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee. He also serves on the Agriculture Committee and continues to be a leader on telecommunications and technology issues. Congressman Pickering is co-chair of Mississippi for Bush 2004.

"We are looking forward to welcoming Governor Mabus and Congressman Pickering to Millsaps for this election-year event," said Luran Buchanan, executive director of the Arts & Lecture Series. "We will have a moderator who will accept written questions from members of the audience for the two guests, who will respond in turn to the questions."

"It's going to be really interesting to hear their answers and to see how their responses reflect against the bigger canvas of the upcoming presidential election," Buchanan added.

Tickets are $10 at the door. Season tickets are available for the series. For further information, contact Luran Buchanan at 601-974-1043 or email [e-mail missing]