First city council forum, signs and bumper stickers to follow

The race is five months away, and the field is not yet completely set. Still, the first forum for candidates running for an at-large seat on the Boston City Council is planned for tonight.

Hosting the event is the city's Ward 5 Democratic Committee, which includes the Back Bay and Beacon Hill. Each candidate will be given three minutes to present their qualifications, followed by five minutes of questioning. After the forum, the committee will consider possible endorsements of one or more of the candidates.

Candidates who have taken out papers for the race for four seats include all four incumbents (Felix D. Arroyo, Michael F. Flaherty, Stephen J. Murphy, and Sam Yoon), as well as John R. Connolly, William P. Estrada, Matthew Geary, Martin J. Hogan, and David James Wyatt

The forum starts at 7 p.m., at the Community Church of Boston, 565 Boylston St.