The Albert Lea and Austin areas will soon hear from candidates in three key races; Minnesota Senate District 27 between incumbent Dan Sparks, DFL-Austin, and Linden Anderson, R-Waltham, House District 27B  between incumbent Jeanne Poppe, DFL-Austin, and Nathan Neitzell, R-Austin, and Austin mayor, between incumbent Tom Stiehm and challenger Dick Lang. The event is hosted by the Austin Daily Herald and KSMQ-TV.

KSMQ President Eric Olson and Herald reporter Trey Mewes will moderate the event.

The Herald and KSMQ will bring voters the three roundtables, which the Herald will have on its website for about two weeks before the election, and KSMQ will air three times the week before the election. Each roundtable is 30 minutes.

KSMQ will air the Stiehm and Lang roundtable at 7 p.m. Oct. 30, at 9:30 p.m. Oct. 31 and at 9:30 p.m. Nov. 1; the Poppe and Neitzell roundtable at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 30, at 3:30 p.m. Nov. 3 and at 4:30 p.m. Nov. 4; and the Sparks and Anderson roundtable at 9 p.m. Oct. 31, at 4 p.m. Nov. 3 and at 5 p.m. Nov. 4.