The public will have a chance to hear candidates for the state Legislature and Hill County Commission at a forum, 7 p. m. today, at the Havre High School auditorium.

The Havre Daily News will sponsor the discussion.

Questions will be posed by moderator John Ita, a government teacher at Havre High School.

Candidates scheduled to appear are:

• Democrat Greg Jergeson and Republican Don Richman, candidates for the state Senate from District 17.

• Republican Debi Rhines and Democrat Mark Peterson who are vying to become a Hill County commissioner.

• State House District 33 candidates Kris Hansen, a Republican, and Brenda Skornogoski, a Democrat.

• Republican Wendy Warburton and Democrat Karen Sloan who are running for the House seat from District 34.

While the forum will begin at 7 p. m., people are encouraged to come early and mingle with the candidates. Refreshments will be served.

Under the format, each candidate will open with a two-minute statement, followed by questions. They will get 90 seconds to answer questions submitted by reporters, readers and Ita. The candidates will close with two-minute statements.

“We encourage everyone to attend tonight’s events, ” Havre Daily News Publisher Stacy Mantle said this morning. “This will be one of the few times voters can see all of the candidates together. ”

The candidates are running in the Nov. 6 election, the first since the controversial 2011 legislative session that was marked by sharp conflicts between the Republican majority, including Hansen and Warburton, and Gov. Brian Schweitzer, a Democrat.

Jergeson and Richman are running to succeed Craig Tilleman, who replaced Republican Rowlie Hutton, who moved out of state.

Peterson and Rhines are hoping to succeed Democrat Kathy Bessette who is not seeking re-election.