The LPSB races are sure to get heated between now and Nov. 4, and with only 9 available seats, this year's field of 20 candidates will surely be wanting to set themselves apart from the crowd early; they'll get their chance next week, starting Tuesday with the kick-off of a three-day series of candidate forums.

The LPSB races are sure to get heated between now and Nov. 4, and with only 9 available seats, this year's field of 20 candidates will surely be wanting to set themselves apart from the crowd early; they'll get their chance next week, starting Tuesday with the kick-off of a three-day series of candidate forums.

The forums are being hosted by the non-profit Lafayette Parish Public Education Stakeholders Council, or LaPESC, and will stretch out over three days, with each day featuring candidates from three of the nine contested school board seats.

"The forums are a key strategy in ensuring that the community is provided an opportunity to hear from all candidates on how they stand on crucial issues such as increasing student achievement and preparedness in our community," says LaPESC Chairman Stephen Bartley. "It is LaPESC's hope that these forums build community engagement and support for uniting in a common set of community principles and priorities for public education as the Nov. 4 election quickly approaches."

Tuesday will kick-off the first of the three forums, and will feature candidates from the first, second and third districts:

District 1 candidates:

Mary Morrison

Coach Don' Gagnard

Mama' Redell Comeaux Miller

District 2 candidates:

Tommy Angelle (incumbent)

Simon Mahan

James Chavis

District 3 candidates:

Shelton Cobb (incumbent)

Elroy Broussard

Districts 4, 5 and 6 will follow on Wednesday:

District 4 candidates:

Tehmi Chassion (incumbent)

Erica Williams

District 5 candidates:

Kermit Bouillion (incumbent)

Britt Latiolais

District 6 candidates:

Kathleen Schott Espinoza

Justin Centanni

Thursday will round out the series with candidates from the last three districts; 7, 8 and 9:

District 7 candidates:

Mark Cockerham (incumbent)

Dawn Morris

District 8 candidates:

Hunter Beasley (incumbent)

Erick Knezek

District 9 candidates:

Jeremy Hidalgo

Brian West

Each of the forums will be held from 6-8 p.m. at the LITE Center, located at 537 Cajundome Blvd.

The forums will also be viewable by a live broadcast from Acadiana Open Channel - try either Cox 16 or LUS 4 - followed by numerous replays in the lead-up to Nov. 4.

LaPESC is comprised of a diverse group of community organizations, including: 100 Black Men of Greater Lafayette, Acadiana Center for the Arts, Citizens Action Council, Concerned Citizens for Good Government, Greater Lafayette Chamber of Commerce, Greater Southwest LA Black Chamber of Commerce, Lafayette Parish School System, Lafayette Parish Sheriff's Office, Parents Empowered, Pugh Family Foundation, State of Greater Black Lafayette, United Way of Acadiana, University of Louisiana at Lafayette, and Upper Lafayette Economic Development Foundation.

Go here for more on LaPESC.

And if you missed it, be sure to check out our September cover story for a break-down of the dynamics going into this year's school board elections and what to expect from each candidate if elected (for our Q&A with all the challengers click here).