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The general election for the 5th Congressional District seat will be Tuesday, Oct. 16. For more coverage of the 5th Congressional District race, visit blogs.townonline.com/behind/race-for-5th.

The League of Women Voters is sponsoring two candidates’ forums for candidates in the race for the vacant 5th Congressional District seat.

The League has scheduled a forum Tuesday, Sept. 25, at Acton-Boxborough Regional High School, 36 Charter Road, Acton, beginning at 7:30 p.m.

All of the candidates were invited to participate in the Tuesday forum, but Jim Ogonowski, R-Dracut, and Niki Tsongas, D-Lowell, have declined. The independent candidates will answer voter questions at this forum.

“We are disappointed that Ms. Tsongas and Mr. Ogonowski decided to limit their debates to three and to not participate in the long-scheduled League debate Sept. 25,” a statement from the League steering committee for the 5th Congressional District forums said. “We feel it is important for voters to have a chance to hear and question the candidates, and the Acton location is convenient for voters in the southern part of a very large district. We hope the two major-party candidates will reconsider their decision not to participate in the Sept. 25 forum.”

All five candidates vying for the seat have agreed to participate in the Thursday, Sept. 27, forum in the Collins Center at Andover High School, 100 Shawsheen Road, Andover.

This forum will be moderated by Emily Rooney, host and executive editor of “Greater Boston”on WGBH television, and begins at 7:30 p.m.

At both events, audience members will be able to submit written questions for the candidates before the program begins at 7:30 p.m. The written questions must be addressed to all candidates. All questions will be asked by the forum moderator.

Additional information about the 5th Congressional District election is available on a League-sponsored Web site, votinginfo.info.

The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan political organization. The League encourages informed and active participation in government and works to increase understanding of major public policy issues. For more information on the state and local Leagues, visit lwvma.org.

The Niki Tsongas and Jim Ogonowski campaigns announced that they will participate in three debates prior to the general election Tuesday, Oct. 16. Any candidate for Congress in the 5th District who will appear on the ballot in October will be invited to each of the debates.

On Sept. 25, the candidates will debate on NECN. The debate will be pre-taped and will air at 7 p.m. On Sept. 27, the candidates will participate in a debate hosted by the League of Women Voters. The League is in the process of determining details of this debate. And, on Oct. 9, the candidates will participate in a debate co-hosted by UMass.-Lowell and The Sun of Lowell.

MassResistance, the leading defenders of traditional marriage and the family in Massachusetts, has endorsed Constitution Party candidate Kevin Thompson in the race to fill the empty 5th District congressional seat.

In a letter to supporters, the pro-family group discussed the special election this October and particularly addressed the issue of which candidate conservatives should support. Though many see Republican Jim Ogonowski as the conservative choice, MassResistance points out, “Ogonowski is pro-choice, although he supports parental notification and is against partial-birth abortion. He supports changing the military’s policy to allow homosexuals to serve openly without the ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ rule. (This despite the fact that Ogonowski is a 28-year military veteran!) He supports the establishment of homosexual ‘civil unions’ — state-sanctioned look-alike “marriages” — although he opposes actual same-sex marriage. (The staffer told us that this is Ogonowski’s way of ‘compromising.’)”

Left with only one real option, the letter goes on to say, “Our position is that you’ll never get the right candidate elected unless you vote for him. That’s why we’re endorsing Constitution Party candidate Kevin Thompson. There’s no better feeling than to pull the lever for someone you really want in there.”

“MassResistance is the only pro-family group in the state to stand up for what is right,” Thompson said in a statement. “Their courageous stands and bold actions are an inspiration. It is truly an honor to receive their endorsement.”

To find out more about the Kevin Thompson for Congress Campaign, log on to thompson07.com.

To find out more about the Constitution Party, please log on to either cpoma.orgor constitutionparty.com.

CHELMSFORD — Jim Ogonowski, candidate for Congress in the 5th District of Massachusetts, announced recently the airing of his second television ad, “Broken Congress.”

The ad, airing throughout the 5th District, refers to Ogonowski as a farmer, small businessman and veteran. It refers to newspaper reporters who say he will buck the status quo and stand up for his beliefs

The ad says Ogonowski is not a partisan politician and that he will fight wasteful spending, oppose amnesty for illegal immigrants, and promote clean, renewable energy.

“There is a clear difference between Jim and Niki,” said Dustin Olson, Ogonowski’s campaign manager. “The people of the 5th Congressional district are fed up with a Congress that is more focused on fighting with each other than solving the important issues that everyday people face. Unlike Niki, Jim will put partisanship aside and fight to end wasteful spending, oppose amnesty for illegal immigrants, and promote tax credits for renewable energy. Jim served his country for 28 years in the Air Force and Air National Guard, and now he’s ready to serve his country again by working to end business as usual in Washington.”

LOWELL — The Niki Tsongas for Congress campaign announced that several members of the Eileen Donoghue, Jamie Eldridge and Barry Finegold campaigns have joined their team to send Niki Tsongas to Congress on Oct. 16.

“In the days following the primary, Niki has been joined by each of the Democratic candidates as well as their supporters and volunteers who have vowed to support her candidacy,” said campaign manager Roger Lau in a statement. “We are excited to announce that many of the talented members of their staff have also joined our campaign and we welcome them to the team. Ryan Coleman, Chris Keohan, Stephanie Mollohan and Jeremy Wade will be strong additions to our campaign and valuable resources for Niki as she campaigns across the 5th District.”

Prior to coming on board with the Tsongas campaign, Ryan Coleman served as the field director for Eileen Donoghue; Chris Keohan served as the deputy campaign manager for Barry Finegold; Stephanie Mollohan served as the finance director for Barry Finegold; and Jeremy Wade served as the campaign manager for Jamie Eldridge.

On the Tsongas campaign, Coleman and Mollohan will serve as deputy finance directors, Keohan will serve as the campaign’s liaison to labor organizations and Wade is managing all grassroots communications.