NORTH ANDOVER — Candidates are probably practicing their opening statements about this time.
Election season is here again and the annual debates will kick off tonight with the Andover/North Andover League of Women Voters' candidates forum, starting at 7 at Town Hall.
The forum is moderated by Martha Larson, who will have prepared questions, but will also take written questions from the audience.
"The candidates try to get out and knock on doors, they go downtown Saturday mornings. But this is a time you can hear them all at once," said Kathy Stevens, voter service chairwoman for the league. "In a world where everyone is busy, it's a chance to catch them all before the election."
The four candidates for selectman and the three candidates for School Committee will each have two minutes for opening statements, then answer questions, followed by a chance to give a one-minute summation.
The candidates running unopposed for Housing Authority and the Greater Lawrence Technical School Committee have the opportunities to give statements.
Stevens said the forum will be rebroadcast repeatedly on local Channel 8 leading up to the March 25 election.
"It gets quite a television audience," she said. "It's an easy way to learn a little bit about each of them."
Here are your 2008 candidates for town office
Candidates for Selectman:
r Joe Edward Smith
r Donald Stewart
r Tracy Watson
r Richard Nardella
Four candidates competing for two seats
Candidates for School Committee:
r Chris Nobile
r Michael Quinlan
r Stanley Limpert
Three candidates competing for two seats
Candidate for Housing Authority:
r Helen Soucy, incumbent
Candidate for Greater Lawrence Technical High School Committee
r John Driscoll, incumbent
