The 2014 campaign gets underway in earnest next week.

On Monday, the San Joaquin County Republican Party is conducting a candidate forum from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Manteca Transit Center, Moffat Boulevard and Main Street, in Manteca. Then on Tuesday the San Joaquin County Taxpayers Association will host both sheriff candidates for a meet and greet and a question and answer period in Stockton.

The Manteca event is free but because it is a powwow of all 10 Republican organizations in San Joaquin County — including the Manteca Republican Women’s Federation and the South San Joaquin County Republicans — tickets are required for entrance as all seating is reserved. For tickets and more information go to www.sjgop.com.

Among the confirmed are Congressman Jeff Denham and Assemblywoman Kristen Olsen as well as Congressional candidates seeking the Republican nod on June 3 for the seat now held by Democrat Jerry McNerney and a hopeful in the county’s other Assembly District that includes Lathrop.

Sheriff Steve Moore and Sergeant Pat Withrow are attending Tuesday’s taxpayers’ forum in the fireside room of the Central United Methodist Church in Stockton that’s located at 3700 Pacific Avenue.

The event is free and open to the public. It starts at 6 p.m. with a meet and greet followed by the program at 6:30 p.m.

For more information on the taxpayers group go to www.sjtax.org