Governor Brown Turns Down Debate Invitation

Governor Kate Brown has turned down an invitation to the traditional first debate of the campaign season, according to The Oregonian.

The Oregon Newspaper Publisher's Association, which had scheduled their traditional debate for July 22, had extended offers to Brown and her Republican challenger, Bud Pierce.

The association has had the first debate each campaign season going back 30 years. The last major candidate to decline and invitation was Republican Chris Dudley in 2010.

This is Brown's first campaign for governor. She took office last year when John Kitzhaber resigned as a federal probe into influence peddling picked up steam.

"I'm disappointed for our members, and I'm disappointed for voters who are missing the opportunity to find out where she stands," the publisher association's executive director told The Oregonian.

"She wasn't elected into office by voters and everyone is still trying to understand the direction she wants the governor's office to go."

A spokeswoman for the governor told the paper that the governor looks forward to debating Pierce in the fall.