To encourage public interest in the area's April 6 municipal and School Board elections, the St. Louis Beacon is now running on our Backroom blog a list of upcoming nonpartisan candidate or issues forums that are open to the general public. Many of them are co-sponsored by the League of Women Voters of St. Louis, and include question-answer sessions.

We will try to update the list as we receive notice of additional forums.

March 9 -- Rockwood School Board  

The Rockwood School District and the League of Women Voters of St. Louis are sponsoring a candidate forum for candidates running for the Rockwood School Board, Tuesday, March 9 from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p..m at Crestview Middle School, 16025 Clayton Rd. in Ellisville.

There are five School Board candidates: Janet Strate, Linda D. Francois, Stephen (Steve) Banton, Tina M. Stinnett, and Vincent R. Shorter.

March 15 -- Ladue School Board

The Ladue School District and the League of Women Voters of St. Louis are sponsoring a public forum for candidates running for the Ladue School Board, Monday, March 15 from 7p.m. to 8 p..m at Ladue Horton Watkins High School, 1201 S. Warson Road in Ladue.

There are five School Board candidates running for two vacancies: Stacy Washington, Jayne Bloomberg Langsam, Jeffrey Kopolow, Dan Regelean, and Sharon Gabel Buchanan.

March 15 -- Countywide Metro Tax

The Clayton Chamber of Commerce is holding a public forum, from 11:30 a.m. - 12:45 p.m. on the proposed half-cent sales tax hike, called Proposition A, for operations and improvements of the region's Metro transit system. The forum will be held at  Center of Clayton, 50 Gay Ave. 

The speakers will include Chesterfield Mayor John Nations, a leader of the pro-Proposition A effort, called Advance St Louis. Speaking against the proposal is John Burns, leader of a group called Citizens for Better Transit

March 16 -- Kirkwood City Council

The Kirkwood Community for Understanding and Hope and the League of Women Voters of St. Louis are sponsoring a public forum for candidates running for Kirkwood City Council, Tuesday, March 16 at 7 p.m. at Kirkwood Baptist Church, 211 N. Woodlawn Avenue in Kirkwood.

There are five City Council candidates running for three vacancies: Joe Toenjes, Bob Sears, David Poger, Paul W. Ward, and Iggy Yuan.

March 18 -- Webster Groves City Council, and School Board 　

The Webster Groves School District, the City of Webster Groves, and the League of Women Voters of St. Louis are sponsoring a public forum for candidates running for the Webster Groves School Board and Webster Groves City Council, Thursday, March 18 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at Hixson Middle School Auditorium, 630 S. Elm Ave. (Elm and 44).

There are three School Board candidates: Michael Kearney, Steve Loher, and David Addison. The City Council candidates are: Ken Burns, Toni Joyce-Hunt, Greg Mueller, and Fred Hill.

March 23 -- Wildwood City Council

The City of Wildwood and the League of Women Voters of St. Louis are sponsoring a public forum for candidates running for the Wildwood City Council, Tuesday, March 23 at 7 p.m. in the Wildwood City Hall, 183 Plaza Drive.

The City Council candidates are: David Geile, Holly Parks, Tammy Shea, Jean Vedvig, Aaron Luter, Nick Roppolo, David M. Sewell, Jim Kranz, John McCulloch, and Holly Ferris.

March 25 -- Valley Park Board of Aldermen, and Mayor --- CANCELED. Date has not been rescheduled. 

The League of Women Voters of St. Louis is moderating a public forum for candidates running for Valley Park Mayor and alderman, Thursday, March 25 from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p,m, in the Valley Park Middle School Cafeteria, 1 Main Street, Valley Park.

The mayoral candidates are:  Nathan Grellner and Grant Young.

Candidates running for alderman are:  Gil Denormandie, Stephanie Reynolds, Randy Helton, Richard A. Owens, Michael A. Pennise, Jeffery J. Whitteaker, Mike White, and Philip Soto.

March 29 -- Sunset Hills mayor and alderman

The Sunset Hills Chamber of Commerce and the League of Women Voters of St. Louis are sponsoring a public forum for candidates running for Sunset Hills mayor and alderman, at 7 p.m., Mon., March 29 at the Viking Hotel and Restaurant, Watson Road and Lindbergh Blvd, Sunset Hills.

The mayoral candidates are: Mike Svoboda, William J. (Bill) Nolan, Jr., Mary B. Wymer, and Frank Gregory. Candidates for alderman are: Franklin A. Hardy, Jr., Thomas Hrastich, Stephen M. Webb and Claudia Svoboda. 

March 30 -- Crestwood Board of Aldermen

The Crestwood Chamber of Commerce and the League of Women Voters of St. Louis are sponsoring a public forum for candidates running for Crestwood Board of Alderman, at 7 p.m., Tues., March 30 at 7:00 pm at the Crestwood Court Community Room, Pasta House Entrance, Watson Road in Crestwood.

The Board of Alderman candidates are: Mimi Duncan, Jeff Schlink, Jerry Miguel, Steve M. Nieder, and John Foote.

March 31 -- University City mayor, city council and school board

The League of Women Voters of St. Louis is sponsoring and moderating a public forum for candidates running for University City mayor, city council and school board at 7p.m., Wed., March 31 at the University City Public Library, 6701 Delmar (Delmar at Kingsland).

The mayoral candidates are: Shelly Welsch, Robert G. (Bob) Wagner, and Terry Crow. City Council candidates are: Stefany Brot, Stephen E. Kraft, Cindy Thierry, Jim Shemwell, L. Michael Glickert, Byron R. Price, Bob Davoli, and Neva Taylor. School Board candidates are: Tom Peters, Rod Jennings, Bobby Shields, and Maria N. Chappelle-Nadal.