The Shelby County Reporter and the Columbiana Merchants & Professionals Association is teaming up to sponsor a forum for Columbiana’s municipal candidates next Monday, Aug. 16 from 6-8 p.m.

The event will be held at Shelby County High School and all Columbiana voters are invited.

All candidates seeking municipal office in Columbiana have been invited to participate in the event.

&uot;The purpose of this electoral forum is to provide an opportunity for citizens of Columbiana to learn more about those seeking elected office and to create an unbiased forum for candidates to share their ideas as they relate to the future of this city,&uot; Reporter publisher Tim Prince said.

Stacey Walkup, director of the South Shelby Chamber will serve as the event’s moderator.

Each candidate for mayor will be introduced in alphabetical order and be given three minutes to speak to those gathered in the auditorium, Prince said.

The candidates will then be asked two questions selected at random by the moderator. They will have one minute to answer those questions. Following the question period, each mayoral candidate will be given two minutes more to speak to the crowd.

The council candidates will be introduced in alphabetical order by council district as well.

Each will have two minutes to speak to the crowd, followed by the moderator asking one random question, after which they will have one minute to answer. Following the question period, each candidate will be given a final one minute to speak to the crowd.

A list of possible questions which may be asked by the moderator were included in the invitation sent to each candidate.

Following the forum, residents are invited to a reception where candidates will be available for further questions.

Other campaign forums

Other cities having forums include the city of Alabaster and the city of Montevallo.

Alabaster’s electoral forum was held last night at Liberty Baptist Church.

Montevallo’s forum, hosted by the Montevallo Chamber of Commerce, will be Tuesday, Aug. 17 at 7 p.m. at the Montevallo High School Performing Arts Center.

All mayoral and council candidates have been invited to participate.

Two have qualified for mayor and nine have qualified for city council offices. Two of the nine are running unopposed.

During the forum, the candidates will have the opportunity to introduce themselves and present platform highlights. In addition, a moderator will ask questions. Following the question period, participants will make concluding remarks.

A reception will follow