The Newtown Bee is pleased to see the increasing volume of letters touting and endorsing candidates for the upcoming local election, as well as those addressing issues facing the community and candidates. We also thank contributors for respecting our request to keep the content civil, and to not engage in personal attacks against candidates, their political positions, or parties.

With two more editions before the November 7 municipal elections — October 27 and November 3 — we are issuing the following important reminders:

While the deadline for letters is noon sharp each Wednesday, we would appreciate letters being sent in as soon as possible.

We are still receiving many letters that do not follow The Newtown Bee’s letter policy, and remind contributors that residential addresses and phone numbers are required with every submission — regardless of how many previous letters you may have sent, or how familiar we might be with you.

That information is NOT for publication, but is required for verification. The omission of one’s address and phone number could delay or prevent your letter from running as planned.

Any letters of endorsement will be accepted only through noon sharp on Wednesday, November 1, for the November 3 print edition and online publication. Endorsement letters are limited to 300 words.

Letters that do not attack, but may appropriately question or critique positions of specific candidates or the parties they represent — which might prompt or require a written rebuttal from candidates or those with differing political views — will not be considered for publication in the November 3 edition or online at newtownbee.com.

Any candidate who has not yet contributed a letter of self-endorsement is still being permitted up to 500 words on a one-time-only basis. However, self-endorsing or introductory letters will only be accepted for publication in next week’s edition, again with the deadline being noon sharp Wednesday, October 25.

No letters of self-endorsement or introduction will be run November 3.

Following two weeks of candidate profiles that ran in The Newtown Bee print editions of October 6 and 13 (and subsequently online), along with our editorial roundtable visits with Newtown’s two first selectman candidates that were covered last week, we are excited to see other organizations stepping up to help voters become more familiar with some of the local candidates.

On Tuesday, October 24, The League of Women Voters of Northern Fairfield County (LWVNFC), in collaboration with the Newtown Democratic and Republican Town Committees and Western CT State University, will hold a debate among the first selectman and Board of Selectmen candidates at Edmond Town Hall Theatre. The debate begins at 7:30, and the doors open at 6.

The following evening, October 25, Newtown’s Parent-Teacher Association and Parent Teacher Student Association will be conducting an informational forum featuring Board of Education candidates. The forum will be held from 7:30 to 9 pm in the Newtown High School Lecture Hall (room A107). More details on each event appear in a separate report on today’s front page.

Please consider attending these events, check out our coverage in the next two editions, and most importantly, cast your votes on or before November 7!