By MOLLY DAVIDSON / Staff Writer

PELHAM—With state elections fast approaching, Pelham will play host to two of five candidate forums sponsored by the Greater Shelby Chamber of Commerce, the Shelby County Republican Party and Shelby County Newspapers Inc.

“With some fairly important primary elections coming up, we thought it would be useful to hold some forums,” said Greater Shelby Chamber president and CEO, Kirk Mancer. “We did this in 2012 with the mayoral elections.”

Candidates for each position have been invited to attend their respective forums and answer questions designed to inform voters of their positions on important matters. Candidates will not be informed of the questions prior to the event, and they will be asked questions in a rotating order. They will also be given the opportunity for closing remarks at the conclusion of the forum.

“This provides voters in districts a chance to hear what the candidates have to say,” Mancer said. “In many cases there hasn’t been a competitive election in years.”

The Pelham Civic Complex will host the State House District 73 forum on May 6 from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. and the Shelby County Sheriff’s forum on May 21 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

“These are very exciting times,” Mancer said, noting State House District 73 is a new district and the Sheriff’s Office has not had “an open election in 12 years.”

The other forums include the U.S. Congressional 6th District on May 8, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Cahaba Grande Conference Center, State Senate District 11 on May 20, from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Shelby County High School’s auditorium and State House District 43 on May 22, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the New Hope Cumberland Presbyterian Church.

All forums are free and open to the public. For more information visit Business.shelbychamber.org/events.