A local non-partisan progressive group will host a panel next Thursday for candidates hoping to be the next council member for the 1st District, which includes portions of Downtown, Central and West Long Beach.

Our Revolution Long Beach is organizing the event, which will take place Aug. 1 from 7 to 9 p.m. at Toxic Toast Records Theatre, at 757 Pine Ave.

“Democracy is always strongest when voters are able to express their priorities to and hear directly from those who aspire to represent them,” said Kathy Dasilva, the group’s political outreach chair.

The forum will begin with brief statements from the candidates who will then answer questions from a moderator. The questions will cover key issues facing the city that, if elected, the candidate will be tasked with addressing, according to a release. Audience members will be able to ask questions in the last half of the forum during a Q&A segment.

The panel will include Ray Morquecho, Hashim Muhammad, Mariela Salgado, Misi Tagaloa, Mary Zendejas and Elliot Gonzales.

According to the city clerk’s office, Shirley Huling and Asha Nichols have also filed to run. The group reached out to Huling but she did not respond to their request.

The list of candidates may not be complete yet—those interested in running for the seat have until Aug. 9.

The seat was left vacant last month when Councilwoman Lena Gonzalez was elected in June to represent the 33rd District in the state Senate. She was elected to a four-year term in 2014 and appointed to another term last June when no other person ran against her.

The special election to fill Gonzalez’s seat is scheduled to take place in November.

For more information on the free event click here.