Debate snub angers gubernatorial hopeful Adam wants equal time with rivals

AUGUSTA — Independent gubernatorial hopeful Andrew Adam says he is being treated unfairly by television stations that invited only his two better-known rivals to participate in a Sept. 4 debate.

“I just want equal treatment,” said Adam, an Augusta real-estate broker who gathered more than 4,000 signatures to get on the November ballot.

Republican Gov. John R. McKernan and his Democratic challenger and Blaine House predecessor, U.S. Rep. Joseph E. Brennan, are to appear in the debate that will be telecast by WCSH-TV, Channel 6 in Portland, and WLBZ-TV, Channel 2 in Bangor. The stations are owned by the Maine Broadcasting Co.

Adam, a political newcomer who is not known outside of the capital, said Thursday that appearing in a televised debate is the best way for him to explain his position to voters.

“And that first debate is the one most people are going to watch. I just want the people of Maine to know that I’m not snubbing Channel 6, they’re snubbing me,” he said.

Jeff Marks, station manager at WCSH-TV, said station officials invited only McKernan and Brennan to the debate because they are the nominees of the major political parties and have attracted most of the attention in the gubernatorial campaign.

Marks said his station is willing to give Adam some studio coverage in a different format, such as an interview, but that McKernan and Brennan are simply “more newsworthy.”

“We don’t want to shut (Adam) off” entirely, Marks said.

Marks said Friday that, at Adam’s request, station officials agreed to further consider whether to include him in the debate but made no promises that the decision would be reversed.

Brennan and McKernan agreed to the Sept. 4 session this week, after sparring for weeks over the timing of debates. McKernan repeatedly chastised Brennan for refusing to engage in debates this summer; Brennan, who served two four-year terms as governor before swapping jobs with McKernan in 1987, responded that voters would not be interested until after Labor Day.