AUGUSTA – Reactions to controversial ads disparaging gubernatorial candidates’ positions on state spending and casino gambling spiced up a Wednesday night debate sponsored by the Maine State Chamber of Commerce.

John Baldacci, a Bangor Democrat who is serving his last term as Maine’s 2nd District congressman; Peter Cianchette, a South Portland Republican and former state legislator; Jonathan Carter, the Green Independent Party candidate and former teacher from Lexington Township, and John Michael, an Auburn independent and state representative, appeared more at ease before the camera in their third televised debate than in previous debates. The Wednesday debate was carried live by WCSH Channel 6 in Portland and WLBZ Channel 2 in Bangor.

Moderated by WCSH anchor Pat Callaghan, the hourlong discussion touched upon a number of familiar topics including health care, state tax policy and job creation and retention strategies. But the issue that produced the most fireworks was touched off after Callaghan asked each candidate whether he thought he had abided by the Margaret Chase Smith Center’s code of elections ethics pledge.

All of the candidates have taken the pledge which, among other things, requires them to avoid demeaning references, personal attacks or stereotyping when referring to their opponents. The pledge extends to third party ads that benefit, but are not paid for by the candidate. The candidates are supposed to repudiate the ad if it violates the code.

In the last two days, two ads have raised the hackles of Cianchette and Baldacci. A 30-second ad purchased with taxpayers’ money by Carter, whose campaign is publicly funded, has been assailed for allegedly ethnically stereotyping Italian-Americans and linking organized crime to casino gambling. The narrator in the ad speaks with what Carter claims is “a Brooklyn accent” that others have described as one synonymous with the HBO gangster series, “The Sopranos.” The ad points out that Baldacci, who is of Italian decent, voted for a Calais casino plan in 1993 and has accepted campaign contributions from those backing a proposed Southern Maine casino. The ad does not indicate that Baldacci has vowed to veto the current gambling resort plan should such legislation reach his desk as governor.

Cianchette, who is also of Italian descent, said he was not offended by the ad which he simply dismissed as a parody of the R-rated television series. Carter said his ad did not violate the code of ethics because the ad accurately described Baldacci’s earlier position on the casino proposal.

“I don’t believe there is anything in the ad that demeans any group whatsoever,” Carter said.

Baldacci said the ad was inaccurate because it failed to depict his position on the current casino proposal. He also said there was no excuse for “the stereotyping that took place.”

“It’s very unfortunate and it does not represent the values and the people of the state,” he said. “It’s not about me, it’s about the people of the state.”

Michael, who cautioned the audience about his sometimes “colorful” responses, said there was nothing out of line in the casino ad and that the supposed outrage Baldacci supporters have registered was simply an attempt to distract attention from the ad’s content.

“As far as whining about the Italian heritage stuff, that’s just a cover – a smoke – the liberals always whine and play victim whenever you try to bring the truth directly to them,” he said.

Buoyed by a recent poll from Public Opinion Strategies of Alexandria, Va., that shows Cianchette trailing Baldacci by just 8 percent, the Republican hopeful challenged the front-runner to withdraw what he described as an “attack ad” launched by the Maine Democratic Party. The ad implies Cianchette has been untruthful about his votes as a legislator and increased state spending by $600 million.

“I’d like to ask Congressman Baldacci how he can continue to have his supporters put an ad on the television distorting my record,” Cianchette said. “It’s a Houdini act as far as I’m concerned – trying to twist and contort my record when they know its inaccurate and continue to run this ad.”

Baldacci produced an Associated Press account that he said supported the Maine Democratic Party’s allegations in the ad.

“If they’re inaccurate, then The Associated Press probably would want to know that and correct that,” he said.

“Well I have to tell you, you really should go back and do your research,” Cianchette replied. “I don’t know about The Associated Press, but go into the legislative record and you will find that I supported about one-third of the increases in spending that John Baldacci and his supporters have said that I have.”