With 1996 promising to be a big election year, opportunities to scrutinize candidates and their agendas should be presented to the public. Candidate forums offer voters and the media the chance to meet and question those who are running for local nonpartisan offices. In order to attract a large audience, you or your group can team up with and co-sponsor the event with other organizations such as the League of Women Voters, the PTA or the Chamber of Commerce. Some basic guidelines for holding a successful forum are:

• Each candidate is sent a written invitation (certified mail) notifying him/her of the date, time, location, ground rules and the program format. Request the candidate to respond by a definite date.

• Each candidate will be given three minutes for an opening statement and two minutes to make a closing statement. A timer should signal the candidate with timing cards when there are 30 seconds remaining and also when time has expired.

• Questions from the audience will be submitted in a written format. The questions will be screened in order to avoid duplication and then presented by the moderator. All candidates will have one minute to respond to each question.

• In order to keep the audience's attention, the forum should last no longer than 1.5 hours.

• In order to present a fair and impartial exchange, no campaign material should be distributed at the forum.

• Candidates should appear themselves — no substitutes should be accepted.