Cory Barnes v. Larry Smith live chat at 5 p.m.

Vancouver City Council candidates Cory Barnes and Larry Smith will answer questions from Columbian.com readers in a live chat today at 5 p.m.

Barnes, 24, a first-time candidate and computer store manager in Longview, will square off against incumbent and Mayor Pro Tem Larry Smith, 69.

For more background information on the candidates see our recent story: Vancouver council candidates offer differing visions.

Visit www.columbian.com/chat to participate in the event. Login with Facebook, Twitter, OpenID or MySpace will be required to leave questions or comments, but anyone can watch the action. If you encounter technical problems, please contact our Web Editor, Libby Tucker, libby.tucker@columbian.com.

Readers who login can send questions and comments from the chat window. Libby Tucker will moderate the discussion, choosing which questions will go live. She’ll post all of the questions that readers submit unless they aren’t submitted by a real person with a real name, include swear words or are off topic. Both candidates will have the chance to respond to a question before the next is posted. Candidates may also ask questions of each other and respond.