ITHACA, N.Y. — Two Ithaca Common Council candidate forums are happening this week where people will square off about local issues and take questions from attendees.

A fifth ward candidate forum is happening from 7 – 8:30 p.m. Thursday at the Ithaca Town Hall located at 215 N. Tioga St.

The forum is being hosted and moderated by The League of Women Voters of Tompkins County and attendees will be permitted to ask candidates questions.

Candidates Laura Lewis, Aryeal Jackson and Melissa Hall are vying for the open seat after Alderperson Josephine Martel vacated the post at the end of the summer.

The following day, a first ward candidate forum is happening  from 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at the Southside Community Center Gymnasium, located at 305 S .Plain St.

Cynthia Brock, who is seeking reelection, James Lukasavage and Anthony Hayton will be taking questions from the public.

Jolene Almendarez is Managing Editor at The Ithaca Voice. She can be reached at jalmendarez@ithacavoice.com; you can learn more about her at the links in the top right of this box.