Photo obtained via the city of Avondale Estates website.

Residents of the city of Avondale Estates have a chance to learn more about the five candidates running for mayor in the upcoming special election.

The city will be hosting a forum on Thursday, Feb. 19, at City Hall, located at 21 North Avondale Plaza. The forum will start at 6:30 pm and will end at 8:30 pm. The special election will be March 17, and early voting starts Feb. 23.

Judge Stephen Nicholas will be the forum’s moderator.

Each candidate will have three minutes for opening remarks and will speak in order as determined by a random drawing. The questions will come from the audience. Questioners are expected to adhere to the following guidelines:

– All questioners should identify themselves (by name and address) and indicate to which candidate or candidates their questions are addressed. It is permissible to ask that all candidates respond to the same question.

– A question may be prefaced by concise introductory remarks.

– The Moderator will seek to recognize any new questioners prior to allowing previous questioners to make additional inquiries.

– The Moderator shall have the final authority to rule upon the appropriateness of questions, responsiveness of candidates and all other matters appropriate to the conduct of this forum.

Decaturish has written an introductory profile of each candidate and will provide ongoing coverage of this election.

The candidates are:

– Paul Brown

– Jonathan Elmore

– Jim Hutchens

– John Pomberg

– Todd Pullen

The city is holding a special election to replace former mayor Ed Rieker who resigned unexpectedly in October to take a university teaching job.