Each election season in recent years, The Newtown Bee has presented a live candidates forum in the run-up to local and state elections, as well as detailed coverage and profiles of all candidates for office.

This year the newspaper is hosting a forum that will feature all the incumbents and challengers seeking a seat on the Board of Education. The editorial staff is also preparing detailed profiles of all Democratic and Republican contenders to help residents make informed decisions before elections on November 5.

The live forum, as in years past, will be on stage at the Edmond Town Hall Theater, on Tuesday, October 22, from 7 to 9 pm. There will be an informal meet and greet opportunity in the lobby at 45 Main Street for candidates to meet with attendees and voters from 7 to 7:25 pm, with the main event beginning at 7:30 in the theater.

All candidates for the school board have agreed to participate.

The Bee is seeking input from readers and residents in the form of questions that might be posed to candidates that evening. Questions can be e-mailed to Bee Editor and event moderator Curtiss Clark at editor@thebee.com, with reference in the subject line to the BOE candidates forum.

The public is invited to attend the October 22 event. There is no admission charge.

The newspaper plans on posting the detailed online profiles of each candidate on or about October 25. Anyone wishing to submit a letter of endorsement for anyone running for office this year, may do so prior to the 5 pm deadline on Wednesday, October 30.

The Bee reserves the right to hold any letters for the issue of November 1 that contain statements about specific candidates that would normally provoke a rebuttal.