The League of Women Voters of Berrien and Cass Counties and eight co-sponsors have announced four live, public candidate forums on three consecutive days in October.

These events will give voters an opportunity to evaluate the candidates running for Congress and in each of the three state legislative districts in Berrien and Cass Counties.

On Oct. 23, there will be two back-to-back forums beginning at 7 p.m. with Fred Upton and Mike O’Brien, the Republican and Democratic candidates respectively, for the Sixth Congressional District.

At 8:15 that same night, the District 78 candidates for state representative, Democrat Jack Arbanas and Republican Dave Pagel, will have their turn.

The venue is the AEP Cook Plant Buchanan Office Building (formerly the Clark Equipment administration building), 500 Circle Drive in Buchanan.

The President of the League of Women Voters of Michigan, Susan Smith, will be the moderator for the Upton/O’Brien debate.

WSJM radio will broadcast that debate live on FM 94.9.

On Oct. 24, District 59 state representative candidates, Republican Matt Lori and Democrat Mike Moroz, will face off at 7 p.m. at the Cass County Council on Aging Lowe Center, 60525 Decatur Rd., Cassopolis.

The last forum will be Oct. 25 with state representative candidates for the 79th legislative district, Republican Al Pscholka, Democrat Jim Hahn and U.S. Taxpayers Party of Michigan candidate Carl Oehling. The venue for this forum is at the Region IV Area Agency on Aging, 2900 Lakeview Ave., St. Joseph.

The eight co-sponsors are Leader Publications, Rotary Club of the Three Oaks Region, Dowagiac Rotary, Greater Dowagiac Chamber of Commerce, Four Flags Area Chamber of Commerce, Harbor Country Chamber of Commerce, Berrien Springs Eau Claire Rotary and Delta Kappa Gamma Society International.

As is traditional with League forums, the first questions at each forum will come from the sponsors and then some from the audience, submitted in writing at the forum.

All events are free and open to the public.

For more information, go to the League’s website, lwvbcc.org.