3 Candidate Forums Planned for November Elections

The Oakland County chapter of the League of Women Voters is gearing up for a month of candidate forums in advance of the Nov. 8 elections.

Forums for Birmingham candidates, including those for Birmingham City Commission, the y board and the Birmingham Public Schools Board of Education, begin next week. League member Judy Bateman is coordinating the Birmingham-area forums and election guides.

Looking to question some of those running for public office? Here's a guide to the upcoming forums. Questions may be submitted the day of the forum.

Birmingham Board of Education

When: 7 p.m. Tuesday

Where:

What it is: The Board of Education oversees and sets school policy, hires and works in partnership with the district superintendent and oversees the district's budget. Board members are elected for four-year terms.

Open spots: two

Who's running: Incumbents Robert Lawrence and Christopher Conti are running for re-election. Challenging them is John Connelly.

Baldwin Library Board

When: 6:30 p.m. Oct. 12

Where:

What it is: The six-member Baldwin Public Library Board is responsible for controlling the expenditures of all library funds, adopting an annual budget, appointing directors and setting library policies. Board members serve four-year terms. Terms are staggered so that three positions are elected every two years.

Open spots: three

Who's running: Board Secretary David Underdown is the only incumbent running for re-election this year. The other candidates are James Suhay, Robert Tera and Ruth Ploski.

Birmingham City Commission

When: 7:15 p.m. Oct. 12

Where:

What it is: The seven-member Birmingham City Commission is responsible for setting the policies for and governing the city of Birmingham. The commission sets the city budget, is responsible for hiring a city manager and approves certain projects within the city. Commissioners are elected to four-year terms.

Open spots: four

Who's running: The incumbents running are George Dilgard, Tom McDaniel, Scott Moore and Mayor Gordon Rinschler. The challengers are Doug Weaver, James Foxley, Steve Knox and Vicki Walsh.