The Day, in partnership with the Chamber of Commerce of Eastern Connecticut, will present a series of political debates among candidates for municipal office during October, according to Editorial Page Editor Paul Choiniere.

In some of the debates, The Day also will be collaborating with other groups, he said.

The League of Women Voters of Southeastern Connecticut is helping, providing timekeepers and other assistance.

Most of the debates will focus on candidates for the chief executive office in their respective towns — for first selectman or mayor, as the case may be. In some instances, however, local parties or organizations also requested inclusion of candidates for selectman.

While dates and locations are set, in some instances candidates have yet to confirm their participation. Updates will be provided if debate plans change, Choiniere said.

All debates will begin at 7 p.m. and last roughly one hour.

Questions can be submitted in writing by audience members to be asked through the moderator, as time allows.

The debates will be recorded for later viewing on theday.com in advance of the Nov. 3 election.

The debate schedule:

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[naviga:li]Oct. 8, Salem School, between First Selectman Kevin Lyden, unaffiliated, and Republican challenger Ed Chmielewski, currently a selectman.

Editor's note: This corrects an earlier version.[/naviga:li][naviga:li]Oct. 13, East Lyme High School, between First Selectman Mark Nickerson (R) and Steve Carpenteri, a Democrat and member of the Board of Finance.

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[naviga:li]Oct. 15, Stonington Community Center (COMO), featuring candidates for first selectman and selectman and presented in conjunction with the Stonington Community Forum. Candidates will be First Selectman George Crouse (D), first selectman candidate Rob Simmons, a Republican and currently a selectman, and selectman candidates Kate Rotella (D) and Michael Spellman, unaffiliated and currently a selectman.

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[naviga:li]Oct. 22, Waterford High School, between First Selectman Daniel M. Steward (R) and Democratic challenger Peter Davis, currently director of Planning and Development for the City of Norwich. This debate is being organized in part by civics students at Waterford High with assistance from teacher Brett Arnold. The League of Women Voters will provide the moderator for this debate.

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[naviga:li]Oct. 26, New London Science and Technology Magnet School, between mayoral candidates Michael Passero, a Democrat and City Council member and Bill Vogel, chairman of the Republican Town Committee.

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[naviga:li]Oct. 28, Wheeler Library, North Stonington, first selectman candidates Robert Testa, who is unaffiliated and serves as a selectman, and Republican Shawn Murphy, a former selectman.

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[naviga:li]Oct. 29, Old Lyme Town Hall, featuring candidates for first selectman and selectman and presented in conjunction with Lyme-Old Lyme Chamber of Commerce. Candidates will be First Selectman Bonnie Reemsnyder (D) and Cathy Carter (R), and selectman candidates Mary Jo Nosal (D) and Arthur E. Sibley Jr. (R), both incumbents.[/naviga:li]

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The Day also had invited the candidates for mayor in Montville to participate in a debate. Democratic incumbent Mayor Ronald K. McDaniel accepted, but Republican challenger Thomas McNally, chairman of his party's town committee, declined. McNally said debates attract partisan audiences that favor one candidate or another and so have little value. Choiniere said he reminded McNally the debate also would be available to a wider audience on theday.com, but the candidate stood by his decision.