7-14 Editorial: Dudley should debate

  • Published: 7/14/2010 12:00:00 PM
   For at least the past 24 years, gubernatorial hopefuls have gathered before the Oregon Newspaper Publishers Association to debate the issues of the day.
   This year that debate will be decidedly one-sided as Republican Chris Dudley has declined the offer to face Democrat John Kitzhaber when the ONPA meets Friday at its annual convention in Salem. The event has served for decades as the traditional kickoff to candidates’ general election campaigns.
   Dudley’s campaign officials originally said the candidate wouldn’t engage in any debates until the fall, then Dudley said he wouldn’t attend because his family would be on vacation.
   Given that Dudley is seeking Oregon’s highest political office, it seems he could produce better excuses than that. Vacations can be delayed, plans can be shuffled if there is good reason.
   Kitzhaber will be there to answer editors’ questions during a particularly dire time in Oregon. We’d like to hear both candidates’ ideas for getting the state back on track.
   While we won’t be endorsing a candidate for governor (we tend to stick with local races), we’re discouraged Dudley will not be there Friday to trade ideas and barbs with Kitzhaber. A good debate can reveal a lot about a candidate.

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