Rep. Jerry McNerney, D-Pleasanton, and his Republican challenger, Dean Andal of Stockton, will make their first and only election appearance together at tonight’s Tracy Press candidates forum.

The congressional forum has historically been well-attended, especially when Richard Pombo, R-Tracy, was in Congress. Tonight should be no exception, with residents from the 11th Congressional District — most of San Joaquin County and parts of the East and South Bay, from Morgan Hill to Danville — traveling to Tracy.

Andal has asked McNerney to debate him throughout the election season, but only one other forum was scheduled in Martinez, and then canceled when McNerney stayed in Washington to vote on the $700 billion Wall Street bailout bill.

The bailout plan is just one of the issues in which McNerney and Andal have differences of opinion. McNerney voted for the bailout; Andal said he would have voted against it.

Tracy Press columnist Jon Mendelson will serve as tonight’s moderator, and a panel of community members will ask questions. Audience members will be asked to write questions on index cards and hand them to the panelists.

Candidates for Assembly and state Senate were scheduled to appear at tonight’s forum but had scheduling conflicts.

The evening will be videotaped, and clips will be available next week on the Tracy Press Web site. DVDs will also be available for checkout at the Tracy Press.