As the April 1 City Commission election draws near, Lawrence voters will have plenty of chances to meet and greet the candidates.

One opportunity is tonight, when the Audubon Society, League of Women Voters and Lawrence Association of Neighborhoods cosponsor a 7:30 p.m. candidate forum at the Douglas County Senior Center, 745 Vt.

Several other groups are sponsoring forums in the weeks leading to the election, including a new organization: The Manufacturers, Technology and Agribusiness Coalition. The coalition is not related to similar committees previously set up by the Lawrence Chamber of Commerce.

“We’re trying to get as many people as we can to understand who the candidates are and where they stand, and to get people out to the polls and vote,” said Karen Schuyler, a member of the coalition.

The group’s forum, at 7 p.m. March 27 at Douglas County 4-H Fairgrounds Building 21, will focus on jobs and taxes.

Other forums coming up:

• Barker Neighborhood forum, 7 p.m. Wednesday at Lawrence Community Theatre, 1501 N.H.
• World Company forum, 8 p.m. March 24 at City Hall, Sixth and Massachusetts streets. This will be televised live on Sunflower Broadband Channel 6.
• Lawrence Chamber of Commerce forum, 9 a.m. March 29 at the Lawrence Arts Center, 940 N.H.