Voters will have a couple of opportunities to hear from Atlanta school board candidates before the Sept. 17 election for the District 2 seat.

The need for the special election was caused by the departure earlier this year of former school board member Byron Amos, who left to run for Atlanta City Council.

Nine candidates are running for the vacancy. They are: Chadd Jonesmith, Paula Kupersmith, Keisha Carey, Aretta Baldon, Will Chandler, Nathaniel Dyer, Davida Huntley, Ed Johnson and Christopher Brown.

District 2 includes central Atlanta.

Voters can hear from the candidates at two upcoming forums.

A League of Women Voters of Atlanta-Fulton County forum will take place at 6 p.m. Sept. 10 at Lindsay Street Baptist Church, 550 Lindsay St. NW.

Organizers said all nine candidates have accepted the invitation to participate.

KIPP Metro Atlanta Schools will host a forum at 6 p.m. Sept. 11 at KIPP Atlanta Collegiate High School, 98 Anderson Ave. NW. The charter school network operates several schools in District 2. 

At least three candidates -- Johnson, Baldon and Carey -- confirmed they would attend the forum as of early this week, according to the organizers.

Members of the public who want to attend the forum can register in advance online.

A runoff election, if needed, will take place Oct. 15.

The winning candidate will serve a partial term that expires Dec. 31, 2021.

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