NEW ULM — The League of Women Voters New Ulm will host a series of Candidate Forums in the weeks prior to the Nov. 6, General Election. The forums will include candidates for Minnesota House District 16B, New Ulm Mayor and City Council, District 88 School Board, Brown County Commissioner District 5, Brown County Sheriff and Brown County Auditor Treasurer.

These events are free and open to the public. The forums will be broadcast live when possible and rebroadcast on KNUJ and NUCAT. More information will be posted on LWV New Ulm Facebook. The specific details for each forum are:

MN House District

16B Forum

The forums kick-off on Monday, Oct. 8, at 7 p.m. at the New Ulm City Council Chambers, 100 N. Broadway in New Ulm with a MN House race forum for the District 16B seat. The candidates are Marinda Kimmel and Paul Torkelson.

Candidates will respond to questions on a wide variety of issues of concern to voters. Diane Norland, a trained moderator from League of Women Voters St. Peter will chair this event.

New Ulm City Council

and Mayor

The candidates for New Ulm City Council Ward 4 and New Ulm Mayor will field questions beginning at 7 p.m. and candidates for New Ulm Mayor will take questions at approximately 8:15 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 15, at the New Ulm City Council Chambers. Candidates for City Council are Andrea Boettger and Larry Mack. Candidates for Mayor are Kathleen Backer and Bob Beussman. League of Women Voters member and trained moderator Ruth Ann Webster will chair this event.

District 88 and County Commissioner District 5

The candidates for District 88 School Board will field questions beginning at 7 p.m. and candidates for Brown County Commissioner District 5 will field questions beginning at approximately 8:15 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 22, also at the New Ulm City Council Chambers.

Candidates for District 88 School Board are Steven Gag, Amanda Groebner, Melissa Sunderman and Duane Winter. Candidates for County Commissioner are Lynn Anderson and Jeffrey Veerkamp. League of Women Voters member and trained moderator Edie Thorstensson will chair the School Board Forum. League of Women Voters New Ulm member and trained moderator Jeanie Hinsman will chair the County Commissioner event.

Brown County Auditor Treasurer and Sheriff

The candidates for Brown County Auditor Treasurer will field questions beginning at 7 p.m. and candidates for Brown County Sheriff will field questions beginning at ap-proximately 8:15 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 24. This Forum will take place at in the lower level of the New Ulm Public Library, 17 North Broadway in New Ulm.

Candidates for Auditor Treasurer are Jean Prochniak and Paul Wesselman. Candidates for Sheriff are Jeff Hohensee and Jason Seidl. League of Women Voters member and trained moderator Kathleen Berg will chair this event.

Submitting Candidate Questions

Written questions will be accepted throughout the forum. By League of Women Voter policy, the identity of the person asking the question is confidential. Audience members will have the opportunity to submit questions in writing at the event. Members of the viewing and listening audience may call with their questions during the Forum and a League of Women Voters member will print the called in questions. The phone number will be announced during the Forum.

Format of Candidate

Forums

During the forum, candidates will deliver a 1-1/2-minute opening statement. Each candidate will have two minutes to answer the questions posed by the moderator. Candidates will be allowed two opportunities for rebuttal. Candidates will also give 1-minute closing statements.

The League of Women Voters New Ulm does not endorse candidates for office or political parties. LWV is a nearly 100-year old 501(c)3 political organization that encour-ages informed and active participation of citizens in government and influences public policy through education and advocacy. Membership is open to all. Membership infor-mation will also be available at the Candidate Forums.

For more information, please contact Linda Heine, Voter Service Chair at 507-276-6140 or at heinelinda27@gmail.com.