MACHIAS – Three gubernatorial candidates generally concurred on issues involving the future of families, education and jobs within Maine in a debate Friday evening at the University of Maine at Machias.

But they sharply diverged on the prospect of liquefied natural gas coming to the Washington County coast.

Republican Chandler Woodcock of Farmington, independent Barbara Merrill of Appleton and Green Independent Pat LaMarche of Augusta engaged in a forum that UMM hosted as “part of its commitment to public service,” according to moderator Ronald Mosley, a UMM professor of business administration.

The candidates were speaking in advance of Maine’s general election on Nov. 7. They are the only ones of the field of gubernatorial candidates who responded positively to the invitation to speak at UMM.

Gov. John Baldacci declined to take part because of a schedule conflict, event organizer and UMM professor Jon Reisman said.

The candidates made their presentations to an audience of about 45. The event was up against the musical for the Machias Wild Blueberry Festival, which drew 350 to the local church at the same time.

Mosley, Ruth Leubecker, a local journalist, and Marianne Thibodeau, an associate librarian at UMM, formed the panel that put questions to the candidates. A half-dozen additional questions, mostly about families, jobs and public education, came from the audience.

During the forum, the candidates were asked by the panel if they support LNG and where they would site an LNG facility in Maine, should various proposals gain federal approval.

Woodcock was the most outright supporter.

“I support LNG, although I am not in favor of a mandated location,” he said. “It’s very important that local support is generated and has the support of the local community.”

He noted that the country could revisit the conservation of oil mind-set that prevailed in the 1970s.

“LNG is only part of the portfolio for energy problems in Maine,” Woodcock continued. “We need to make Maine more self-reliant.”

Merrill said she believed that the siting of LNG should not be a federal issue.

“I would insist [as governor] that state law be changed because it is so vital that all towns have a vote,” she said.

“If I was a resident in one of the towns [where LNG proposals could impact], I would vote against it, because I believe it would have a net negative impact.”

LaMarche spoke adamantly against bringing LNG to Maine.

“I don’t support it, and our fuel problems will not be solved by LNG,” she said, showing her environmentalist background. “[One proposal] is on tribal land [at the Passamaquoddys’ Pleasant Point reservation] and could be mired in federal legislation and the courts for eternity.”