The Albert Lea-Freeborn County Chamber of Commerce Governmental Affairs Committee will host two public forums for city candidates involved in primary election races.

The City Council 1st Ward forum will be at 6:30 p.m. July 26 in the City Council chambers. Candidates Rich Murray, George Gillespie, Craig Havener and Harold Kamrath have been invited to attend. Broadcast details are pending. The forums are expected to last 45 minutes each.

The City Council 5th Ward forum will follow the 1st Ward forum at 7:30 p.m. Paul Shea, Marcelino Talamantes and Robert Rasmussen have been invited to attend.

Each of the candidates will be given two minutes for an opening statement and one minute for a closing statement. The balance of the forum will consist of written questions supplied by audience members.

To submit a question prior to the forum, direct your emails to alfccoc@albertlea.org.

The Governmental Affairs Committee members will be responsible for gathering and submitting the written questions. Raquel Hellman of KIMT will be the panel moderator and will read the questions submitted. Questions will be directed, unless otherwise indicated, on a rotation basis.

All candidates will be allowed to answer if they so desire. Answers will be limited to one minute in order to address the greatest number of questions. Candidates will be given 30 seconds to respond to another’s answer if they so desire.

The forums will be telecast live on the Government Channel and broadcast on KCPI 94.9 The Breeze.