Candidates for the 122nd District state House seat will square off in two October debates leading up to November’s general election.

Republican Rep. Doyle Heffley and his Democratic challenger Neil Makhija have both accepted invitations to events hosted by the Carbon Chamber and Economic Development Corporation and Blue Ridge Cable; and STEP-Up Carbon County.“I’ve committed to the two debates and look forward to talking about the issues important to our community,” Heffley said in a statement Thursday.Makhija also praised the organizations for stepping up to host the debates.“I have great respect for these ... wonderful nonpartisan civic organizations, and I look forward to robust debates on issues facing Carbon County like the drug epidemic, building economic opportunity and other issues concerning our residents,” Makhija said.STEP-Up Carbon County, a local group striving to combat the drug epidemic, is hosting a forum from 6:30 to 8 p.m. on Oct. 12 at Panther Valley High School. Organizer Todd Zimmerman said he is hopeful that event will also include Congressman Lou Barletta and his challenger Michael Marsicano; and Congressman Matt Cartwright and his challenger Matt Connolly.“Usually candidates take a for-or-against approach to specific policies,” Zimmerman said. “No one is for heroin or abusive opiate use. This epidemic has hit people from all political parties, race, gender, and socio-economic levels. However, the voters want to know what each candidate may do if they are elected to their respective office on how to better combat the opiate/heroin problem in the future.”CCEDC partnered with Blue Ridge Cable for a debate at Penn’s Peak in Jim Thorpe on Oct. 20.The debate will be televised on BRCTV13.According to Marlyn Kissner, CCEDC executive director, Heffley contacted the chamber three weeks ago about hosting a debate.“We feel this debate would be a great service to the people and businesses of the county, and it’s a great opportunity for candidates to discuss the issues on television” Kissner said. “We’re excited to bring this to the public in a professional, nonpartisan way.”Kissner said details for the event are still being worked out, but the idea is to have a panel submit questions. VIP sections may also be set aside for both candidates.The Jim Thorpe Tourism Agency planned to host the first of the three debates on Oct. 4 at the Mauch Chunk Opera House.Heffley declined an invitation to that event.“With two other debates already scheduled, I encourage the Tourism Agency to work with the CCEDC possibly to sponsor or participate in these forums,” Heffley said.Randall Sellers, tourism agency president, said Thursday with Heffley declining the invitation, there would not be an event at the Opera House.“The whole idea was to get them together to talk about issues relevant to the county,” Sellers said.Sellers said he feels Jim Thorpe is often “passed over as politically irrelevant as far as local politicians go.”“The pattern seems to be political events are held all over the county except Jim Thorpe,” Sellers said.“We have 60 businesses right in town and we represent 100 businesses as a whole. Tourism is the backbone of our local economy, and I think it would have been great to get both guys together on the stage.”