COURTLAND—The Tidewater News will host two candidate forums to educate Southampton County voters on their choices in the Nov. 8 election.

A forum on Wednesday, Sept. 28, will feature candidates in the four contested Southampton County Board of Supervisors races. The three candidates for Southampton County sheriff will be featured during a second forum on Wednesday, Oct. 5. Both forums will begin at 7 p.m. in the Southampton High School auditorium.

Voters should send questions in advance to candidatequestions@tidewaternews.com. Tidewater News Publisher Steve Stewart will moderate the forum for supervisor candidates; General Manager Tony Clark will moderate the forum for sheriff candidates.

Contested supervisor races include incumbent Democrat Moses Wyche against independent challenger Bruce Phillips in the Capron District; Republican incumbent Walter Young against independent Barry Porter in the Franklin District; Republican incumbent Anita Felts against independent Dr. Alan Edwards in the Jerusalem District; and Republican incumbent Walter “Walt” Brown III against independent Glenn Updike in the Newsoms District.

The race for sheriff includes Democrat Jack Stutts, current chief deputy for the sheriff’s office, and independents Brian Marvel, a Franklin police officer, and David Holland, a former assistant Fairfax County police commander. Sheriff Vernie Francis is retiring after seven terms.

Invitations to the candidates were extended Tuesday.

The forums will feature opening and closing statements by each candidate and a Q&A period. Questions will not be given to the candidates in advance.