October is the heart of the political season, and this time there are several political debates on the community calendar. Keep your Tuesdays and Wednesdays free.

There are two next week, run by the Albert Lea-Freeborn County Chamber of Commerce:

• Candidates vying to be the next Freeborn County sheriff square off at 7 p.m. Tuesday in the lecture hall at the Albert Lea campus of Riverland Community College.

• The candidates for Albert Lea mayor and City Council seats will debate at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at Albert Lea City Hall in the Council Chambers.

And there is one the following week, run by the Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities:

• The candidates for House District 27A will field questions generally regarding Greater Minnesota but also a few other topics at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 21 at Albert Lea City Hall in the Council Chambers.

There are two the final week of October, run by the Albert Lea-Freeborn County Chamber of Commerce:

• Candidates for House District 27A will debate any and all issues at 7 p.m. Oct. 28 in the lecture hall at the Albert Lea campus of Riverland Community College.

• Candidate for Albert Lea school board will debate district issues at 7 p.m. Oct. 29 at Albert Lea City Hall in the Council Chambers.

Tim Engstrom, editor of the Albert Lea Tribune, is slated to moderate all five debates.