Voters Invited to Candidate Forum for Senate, Assessor and Commissioner Races

Tuesday, June 2, 2026 —The MIX 105.1 and the Sequoyah County Times are hosting a public election forum where voters can hear directly from local candidates ahead of the 2026 primary election.

The forum takes place tonight, June 2, from 6 to 7 p.m. at the People Inc. Conference Center, featuring candidates seeking election for Oklahoma Senate District 4, Sequoyah County Assessor, and Sequoyah County Commissioner District 3.

The event is intended to help voters become more informed before casting their ballots by allowing candidates to discuss their qualifications, priorities, and positions on issues impacting residents throughout Sequoyah County.

Former Sallisaw Mayor and City Commissioner Shannon Vann will moderate the forum. Candidates will participate in opening remarks, answer questions presented by the moderator, and conclude with closing statements. The order of participation will be determined through a drawing before the start of the event.

Each candidate will be given up to three minutes for opening and closing statements. During the question-and-answer portion of the forum, candidates will have two minutes to respond to each question, with the order of responses rotating throughout the evening to ensure fairness.

To maintain consistency and equal opportunity among participants, candidates will not be allowed to use electronic devices during the forum, including cell phones, tablets, or teleprompter applications. Written notes and note cards, however, will be permitted.

Time limits will be strictly enforced through a color-coded timing system. Candidates will receive a green signal when 30 seconds remain, a yellow signal at 15 seconds, and a red signal when five seconds remain. Once a candidate's allotted time has expired, the moderator will move the discussion forward.

The number of questions presented during the forum will depend on the pace of candidate responses, although organizers anticipate the event lasting approximately one hour.

Residents who are unable to attend in person can watch the forum live on The Mix 105.1/KXMX Facebook page.

Area residents are encouraged to attend or tune in online to learn more about the candidates before heading to the polls in the upcoming primary election.

Lindsie Dyer, Staff Writer

For more news stories, stay tuned to The MIX 105.1 or visit www.kxmx.com