MARTINSBURG-The Journal and WEPM 1340-AM will be hosting 2016 primary candidate forums on seven different dates in April that are open to the public.

“This is a good way to educate the community about the candidates that will be on the primary ballots,” said Dave Emke, The Journal editor. “We will be focusing on the most important issues and ongoing topics facing our elected officials, both locally and in Charleston.”

The first forum was held at Blue Ridge Community and Technical College in Martinsburg on April 5.

Each forum will be set up with essentially the same format, during which candidates will be introduced, each candidate will have a number of minutes to provide an opening statement and panelists will pose questions to the candidates with candidates answering in turn. Any candidate questioned by another will have a chance for a rebuttal. Each candidate will have time for a closing statement.

“We encourage all members of the public to come out and hear what the candidates have to say,” Emke said. “Informed voters are better voters, and it is our hope we can help inform as many as possible through these events.”

The schedule for the subsequent forums:

April 7 – Berkeley County Sheriff, McFarland House, Martinsburg, 6 p.m.

April 13 – Jefferson County Sheriff and Jefferson County Prosecuting Attorney, Old Opera House, Charles Town, 6 p.m.

April 14 – 61st and 63rd House of Delegates, Apollo Civic Theatre, Martinsburg, 6 p.m.

April 18 – Jefferson County Commission and Jefferson County Clerk, Washington High School, Charles Town, 6 p.m.

April 19 – 16th Senate district and 67th House of Delegates district, Robert C. Byrd Center for Congressional History and Education, Shepherd University, Shepherdstown, 5:30 p.m.

April 20 – 15th Senate district and the 60th House of Delegates district, W. Randy Smith Center, Inwood, 6 p.m.