Less than a month remains until the Nov. 8 general election, but voters still have plenty of opportunities to meet, hear and question candidates for public office.
Following are some of the forums planned in coming weeks in Whatcom County. All events are free, unless otherwise noted.
THURSDAY, OCT. 13
Whatcom Council on Aging: 12:30 to 3 p.m., Bellingham Senior Activity Center's coffee bar lounge, 315 Halleck St.
Candidates for Whatcom County, Bellingham and Port of Bellingham races are invited. They will get a chance to deliver a prepared statement, then they'll take audience questions.
Before the forum starts, a lunch will be served at 11:30 a.m. For people under age 60, the cost is $5.50. People 60 and over are asked to make donations based on their ability to pay.
Silver Beach Neighborhood Association: 7 p.m. in the Bloedel-Donovan Park multi-use room.
Candidates for city of Bellingham races are invited. The formal program starts at 7, but candidates will be available starting at 6:30 p.m.
All interested residents, regardless of which neighborhood they live in, are invited.
Audience members will be able to submit questions to the moderator to be asked; if time allows, candidates will be able to question each other.
Birch Bay forum: 7 p.m., Birch Bay Bible Community Church, 7039 Jackson Road.
This is for candidates who will appear on the Birch Bay ballots, including Whatcom County offices and Port of Bellingham candidates, among others.
Candidates will be asked why they're the best person for the job, and they'll have three to five minutes to answer.
The forum is sponsored by the Birch Bay Chamber of Commerce, Birch Bay Steering Committee and The Northern Light newspaper.
FRIDAY, OCT. 14
Transition Whatcom: 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. at County Council Chambers, 311 Grand Ave. in Bellingham.
A forum with the county executive and Bellingham mayoral candidates will focus on energy and economic instability issues.
The forum will include opening comments from candidates, moderated questions and then open questions from the audience. Candidates will be questioned about a variety of topics ranging from their plans for reducing greenhouse gas emissions to how they intend to manage effects of increased energy prices.
SATURDAY, OCT. 15
League of Women Voters of Bellingham/Whatcom County and the American Association of University Women: 9:30 a.m. to noon in Bellingham City Council Chambers, 210 Lottie St.
A forum will be held that includes Bellingham School District board candidates, as well as proponents and opponents of the statewide ballot measures and the county's proposed charter amendment. None of the school board candidates is running opposed.
The event also will be shown on BTV10; check schedules for air times.
TUESDAY, OCT. 18
Bellingham Tea Party: 6 to 8 p.m. at the Lynden Middle School auditorium, 516 Main St.
Doors open at 5:30 p.m. for "open mic/soapbox" for candidates. Those running for county executive, County Council District No. 2 (Sam Crawford and Christina Maginnis) and county treasurer have been invited.
WEDNESDAY, OCT. 19
Mount Baker Foothills Chamber of Commerce: 7 p.m. at the new East Whatcom Regional Resource Center, 8251 Kendall Road.
Candidates for county executive, County Council, sheriff, Fire District No. 14 commission and Columbia Valley Water District have been invited.
Candidates will speak on their candidacies, but the event will not include a debate. For more information, go to Mtbakerchamber.org.
THURSDAY, OCT. 20
League of Women Voters of Bellingham/Whatcom County: 6 to 8 p.m. in Bellingham Municipal Court, 2014 C. St.
Forum with candidates for county executive and County Council.
The event will be recorded and broadcast on BTV10.
WWU forum: 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the Performing Arts Center Concert Hall.
The Western Washington University student government will hold a debate between candidates for Bellingham mayor. It will be moderated between state Rep. Kris Lytton, D-Anacortes, and Mario Orallo-Molinaro, student government vice president for activities. The debate will include three segments: a round of questions asked by moderators, a round of questions asked by each candidate of his or her opponent and, finally, a round of audience questions.
The public is welcome to attend.
WEDNESDAY, OCT. 26
Bellingham City Club: lunch starts 11:50 a.m., event starts after noon, Northwood Hall, 3240 Northwest Ave.
Forum for the candidates for Bellingham mayor. The candidates will provide introductions, then they'll answer questions from a moderator, followed by questions from the floor. It's scheduled to end at 1:30 p.m.
The cost, including lunch, for members of the club is $11, and the cost for non-members is $16.
