OGDEN — Election season, believe it or not, is here.

Though quieter than a presidential election year, political signs have been popping up around Weber County. More notably, perhaps, a series of public forums is underway to help voters choose among the hopefuls.

The Weber County League of Women Voters is hosting debates in seven Weber County cities through Oct. 13. The Weber County Republican Women is hosting a forum next Monday, with 28 candidates from around the county tentatively set to appear.

The aim of the League of Women Voters events, said Terri McCulloch, president of the group, is to raise awareness and help the public learn more about the hopefuls.

“Provide information to the public so they feel they can vote intelligently,” she said. Local elections in an off year like this one typically draw fewer voters than in presidential years, and McCulloch is hoping to counter the trend.

Among the most heated contests, McCulloch reckons, are the mayoral race in West Haven between incumbent Sharon Bolos and challenger Rob Vanderwood, the contest for two at-large posts on the North Ogden City Council and the races for four Ogden City Council posts.

But those aren’t the only races. There are also races in Roy, South Ogden, Pleasant View, Hooper, Washington Terrace, Riverdale, Plain City, Farr West, Harrisville, Uintah and Huntsville.

The first of the League of Women Voters debates was to be held Wednesday among the hopefuls for two four-year South Ogden City Council posts and the last two years of a third seat.

Here’s a rundown of the other debates, all sponsored by the League of Women Voters except for the Weber County Republican Women event:

Farr West: The candidates for two City Council spots and mayor are to meet Thursday from 5-8 p.m. at the Farr West city offices, 1896 N. 1800 West. The city council debate is to go from 5:30-6:30 p.m. while the mayoral debate between incumbent Lee Dickamore and challenger Ken Phippen is to go from 6:45-8 p.m.

All comers: The Weber County Republican Women forum is set for Monday from noon to 1 p.m. at the Ice Sheet, 4390 Harrison Blvd., and all candidates for municipal posts in the county have been invited. Twenty-eight from Ogden, Roy, South Ogden, North Ogden, Farr West, West Haven, Uintah and Huntsville plan to attend, according to Lorraine Brown, head of the group.

Ogden: The candidates for the at-large Seat A, at-large Seat B, District 1 and District 3 seats on the Ogden City Council are to meet at a forum on Monday from 6-8 p.m. at the Grand Lobby of Union Station, 2501 Wall Ave.

West Haven: The candidates for two City Council spots and mayor are to meet Tuesday from 5-8 p.m. at the West Haven city offices, 4150 S. 3900 West. The City Council debate is to go from 5:30-6:30 p.m. while the mayoral debate between Bolos and Vanderwood is to go from 6:45-8 p.m.

North Ogden: The candidates for two City Council spots are to meet next Wednesday from 6-8 p.m. at the North Branch library, 475 E. 2600 North in North Ogden. The debate starts at 6:30 p.m.

Roy: The candidates for two City Council spots are to meet Oct. 7 from 6-8 p.m. at the Southwest Branch library, 2039 W. 4000 South in Roy. The debate starts at 6:30 p.m.

Washington Terrace: The candidates for two City Council spots and mayor are to meet Oct. 13 from 5:30-8 p.m. at the Pleasant Valley Branch library, 5568 Adams, Washington Terrace. The city council debate is to go from 5:30-6:30 p.m. while the mayoral debate between incumbent Mark Allen and challenger Brent Degroot is to go from 6:45-8 p.m.

Mail-in ballots are to be sent to registered voters starting Oct. 12, according to Ryan Cowley, who heads the Weber County Elections office. They should arrive by Oct. 19. The last day to register and get a ballot, meantime, is Oct. 22.

In-person voting will be held Oct. 27-29 and Nov. 1 from noon to 6 p.m. and on Nov. 2 from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. All in-person voting will be at the Weber Center, 2380 Washington Blvd.

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