TULALIP — The Greater Marysville Tulalip Chamber of Commerce wants to give local voters a chance to hear from their prospective elected officials, which is why the Chamber is conducting two candidates’ forums before the general election, Sept. 18 and Oct. 9.

The first candidates’ forum will take place during the Chamber’s Sept. 19 Business Before Hours event from 7-9 a.m. in the Canoes Cabaret Room of the Tulalip Resort Casino. Attendance is $23 with an RSVP, or $28 at the door for non-registered attendees. Kimberlie Ritchey, director of administration for the Chamber, can be contacted about the event by phone at 360-659-7700 or via e-mail Kimberlie@marysvilletulalipchamber.com.

Marysville School District Director District 1 candidates Chris Nation and Heather Thweatt will be participating in the forum, as will Snohomish County Council District 1 incumbent John Koster (prefers Republican Party) and challenger Ellen Hiatt Watson (prefers Democratic Party).

“The forum is the same every year,” Ritchey said. “The Chamber’s Government Affairs Committee will select a set of questions that’s reflective of pressing current events. With each question, one candidate will be given time to answer, after which their opponent will be allowed to respond, followed by the first candidate offering a rebuttal to their opponent’s remarks. The candidates will not be given the questions ahead of time.”

Ritchey noted that this year’s candidates’ forums have been adjusted to accommodate mail-in ballots, since “we want local voters to be educated about their candidates before they vote.”