Residents in both Freeborn and Mower counties will have the opportunity to ask questions of candidates in three local races for the Minnesota Legislature during a forum Oct. 16 hosted by the Austin and Albert Lea chambers of commerce.

The event, at Freeborn-Mower Cooperative Services in Albert Lea, begins with a breakfast at 8 a.m. The forum starts at 8:30 a.m.

Candidates in attendance will be incumbent District 27 Sen. Dan Sparks and challenger Kathy Green, District 27A Rep. Robin Brown and opponent Rich Murray, and District 27B Rep. Jeanne Poppe and challenger Jennifer Gumbel.

Albert Lea Tribune Editor Tim Engstrom, along with members of the two chambers’ governmental affairs committees, will moderate the discussion.

Each candidate will make a one- to two-minute opening statement, and then during the remainder of the forum audience members will be able to submit written questions.

The governmental affairs committees will gather the questions, and Engstrom will read them.

Questions will be directed on a rotating basis.

All candidates will be allowed to answer if they choose and answers will be limited to one minute in order to allow time for more questions.

Albert Lea-Freeborn County Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Randy Kehr said the goal of the forum is to inform area residents about key issues and the candidates.

“We think it’s important for our members to be as knowledgeable about the differences in candidates as they can be,” Kehr said. “That’s the principle reason we do it. Informed voters are better voters.”

To submit a question before the forum, people can send them in an e-mail to alfccoc@albertlea.org or chamber@austincoc.com.

The cost of the breakfast is $7.50 and reservations are required. People can make reservations by calling the Albert Lea-Freeborn County Chamber of Commerce at 507-373-3938 or the Austin Area Chamber at 507-437-4561.

The forum will be taped by KQAQ Classic County in Austin and rebroadcast at a later date.

Freeborn County sheriff

The Albert Lea-Freeborn County Chamber of Commerce is also hosting a forum for the candidates running for Freeborn County sheriff at 7 p.m. Oct. 14 at City Hall.

During this forum, incumbent Freeborn County Sheriff Mark Harig and his challenger Freeborn County Sheriff’s Office supervisor Bob Kindler will be in attendance.

The candidates will first make a three-minute opening statement, and then the audience will be able to submit written questions to ask of the candidates.

To submit a question prior to the forum, people can send an e-mail to alfccoc@albertlea.org.

The procedure of asking and answering questions will be similar to the legislative forum. Questions will be directed on an alternating basis.

This forum is open to the public. It will be broadcast live on the government channel and will be rebroadcast at a later date.