BURLINGTON — As soon as the last candidate files in Lawrence County, it’s time to send out the letters inviting them to the annual Burlington Concerned Citizens Candidates Forum.

And this year is no exception.

Maybe it’s not as well-publicized as Fancy Farm that kicks off election season in Kentucky, but to those running it, it is just as vital. This year the forum will be at 6 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 28, at the Sybene Senior Citizens Center.

“We’ve had it for many years,” Harriette Ramsey of the citizens group, said. “It’s to let the people in this area see and hear the candidates that are running.”

Ramsey is still collecting responses from candidates who have agreed to attend. They have until Feb. 22 to respond.

Each candidate gets four minutes to discuss his or her qualifications for office and goals. They are cautioned to discuss what they can bring to the office, rather than make statements that detract their opponents.

After the candidates speak, those in the audience can ask questions.

“We started this quite a few years ago,” Ramsey said. “I would read everything about the candidates but would never see these people. I took the idea (of a forum) to the organization and they agreed.

“A lot of times we get lost in the shuffle in this end of the county. It’s a chance for the candidates to see and meet us and for us to meet them and hopefully for us to make an intelligent decision.”