NEDERLAND — First United Methodist Church and the Chamber of Commerce will host a forum Monday for those running for city council seats.

The council will experience turnover with three seats guaranteed to have new faces. Mayor R.A. “Dick” Nugent is not seeking reelection, nor is Ward 4 Councilmember Craig Belaire. Ward 3 Councilmember Don Albanese stepped down from his seat in January to run for mayor.

Four seats are up for election with two of them having uncontested races. Ward 2 Councilmember Billy Neal is running unopposed. Emmett Hollier filed to run for Ward 3 seat after Albanese stepped down. No one else filed for Ward 3.

Former councilmember Jeff Ortiz is running against Albanese for mayor, while Sylvia Root is running against David Guillot for the Ward 4 seat. Belaire originally filed to run for reelection in Ward 4, but withdrew and threw his support behind Root.

A potential charter amendment could prove to be problematic for Root’s future on the council. Her home is located on the Ward 2 side of the Ward 2 and 4 border. Candidates typically run for the wards in which they reside. An amendment in the upcoming charter election would require councilmembers to live in the wards they represent for one year prior to running for election.

City Clerk Gay Ferguson said if Root wins and the amendment passes, Root can serve her term representing Ward 4. After her first term, she will have to run in her ward.

The forum will provide a chance for Nederland residents to hear from candidates. This isn’t the church’s first time hosting such an event. In October, the church hosted a forum for candidates running for office in Jefferson County.

“They host pretty much all of our forums,” Nederland Chamber of Commerce Presidnt and CEO Diana LaBorde said. “They are a member of the chamber. They have the family center, a stage and they set up all of the chairs. It is in a great location.”

LaBorde said each candidate would have seven minutes to address the audience. Candidates in contested races will have a coin flip to determine the order of speaking.

The event begins at 6 p.m. in the FUMC Family Center. Attendees are invited to stay afterwards to speak with the candidates individually.

“We feel like this format is a much more relaxed style,” LaBorde said. “It’s a friendly format. We’re not trying to have a debate. This is a way for people to get to know the candidates.”

Early voting begins April 22 and runs through April 30. Election Day is May 4.