There is no debate about it: Gubernatorial candidates Tina Kotek and Christine Drazan are debating where to debate, and the debate is more about debating terms of the debate than debating the debate itself. End of debate.

 

Not since incumbent Gov. Mark Hatfield refused to schedule any debates with Democratic challenger Robert Thornton in 1962 have the two leading candidates for governor skipped a Portland debate. That is 64 years of unbroken tradition. That streak is in serious jeopardy now as both Drazan and Kotek have dug in their heels on where such an encounter in Portland should take place.

 

Drazan has agreed to debate in either the studio of KPTV or KGW. Kotek says, “no way.” Kotek says she is willing to KOIN debate in front of a live audience at Portland State University. Drazan says, “nope.”

 

It may make voters wonder. If candidates for governor can’t even collaborate on what 20-by-25 piece of flooring they can share, how are they ever going to collaborate with all the political factions necessary to advance any kind of agenda for the State of Oregon?

 

Both are looking to avoid missteps. Kotek is trying to not ruffle the feathers of an already reluctant left-leaning teachers union that has refused to endorse her, while Drazan is trying to figure out how to avoid a photo-op with Florida’s ultra-MAGA Gov. Ron DeSantis when he comes to Portland this weekend. The debate is just one part of their warring strategies.

 

Drazan has the edge in this debate kerfuffle. She has agreed to two of the three offers. Kotek has approved just one and has thus far insisted it be held before a live audience at PSU. That is like Drazan asking Kotek to debate before a live audience at the John Day Grange.

 

Add to that the security concerns that could arise at PSU based on recent political tensions, and Drazan’s reluctance is understandable. The focus should be on the ideas exchanged in the debate and not worrying about the environment.

 

Portland-area voters deserve a debate in their city that is focused on their issues. Those voters will likely swing the election. If Drazan can reduce Kotek’s large advantage in the area by just a few percentage points, she could claim Mahonia Hall. Kotek, on the other hand, needs to shore up some dissatisfied Democrats who may be thinking of voting for Drazan knowing the Legislature will still be firmly in Democratic control, and want a rev limiter on some of the more radical ideas coming out of those chambers.

 

Both candidates are well-spoken in a debate environment and voters can learn a lot from them if the questions are specific enough to elicit more than stock responses. The value to the candidates and the voters goes far beyond the debate itself. It is the subsequent coverage of the debate in both print and broadcast as well as social media that extends the audience participation.

 

Candidates for governor shouldn’t be playing rock, paper, scissors to decide whether voters in Portland get to see them on the same stage. It is time to rise above.