Leah Cole, Beverley Griffin Dunne and Dave Gravel, who are vying to become Peabody's next state representative, will lock horns in debate at City Hall March 27 (7 p.m.) and you can watch it live here on Peabody Patch if you can't make it downtown or don't have cable.

We'll also be running a live chat at the same time so readers can share their thoughts on the debate and the election in general. Just check back to our homepage Wednesday evening to find the live feed and chat.

The debate is sponsored by the Salem News and the Peabody Area Chamber of Commerce and will be moderated by Salem News Editor David Olson.

Peabody Access Telecommunications will be streaming Wednesday's debate online and we are able to embed the live feed right here as well. You can also watch the debate live on the PATV website.

The candidates will field questions from a panel, which will include representatives from the Chamber and a Peabody High DECA student.

Cole, a Republican, is a nurse, while Dunne, a Democrat, is a School Committee member and local attorney, and Gravel, who is unenrolled, is a city councilor and local business owner.

The special election is April 2 and the winner will succeed the late Joyce Spiliotis to represent the 12th Essex District in the Mass. House of Representatives.