Austin should have plenty of opportunities to get to know candidates for local office before Election Day on Nov. 6.

From the Austin Mayoral and City Council races to county board and school board races, we at the Herald profiled every candidate before the primary election, and will do so again in October leading up to the general election. Look for a complete guide to the election in mid-October, and find an archive of profiles and Q&As on the candidates at austindailyherald.com/category/election2012.

At the center of our election coverage, the Herald has teamed with KSMQ-TV to provide half-hour debates for Austin Mayor candidates Tom Stiehm and Dick Lang, Minnesota Senate District 27 candidates Dan Sparks and Linden Anderson, and House District 27B candidates Jeanne Poppe and Nathan Neitzell. All candidates are on board, and we’re excited to provide this opportunity for voters. While the debate itself is Oct. 2, viewers will have plenty of opportunities to watch them on KSMQ, and they will be available any time at austindailyherald.com for several weeks before the election. Look for an announcement and more details Friday in the Herald.

Nothing’s more important to the democratic process than an informed electorate. I encourage everyone to check out the debates, read up on all candidates, and contact them directly with questions.