This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

For the first time since 1988, candidates for governor will not debate at the convention of the Utah League of Cities and Towns — and its leaders are upset at Gov. Gary Herbert for ending that 28-year tradition.

At a board meeting Tuesday, Ken Bullock, the league's executive director, said the group told Herbert in May that it wanted to hold the debate this week at its convention — but the governor said he had scheduling conflicts.

Bullock said Democratic candidate Mike Weinholtz will appear Friday by himself toward the end of the league's three-day convention at the Sheraton in Salt Lake City. Both candidates also filled out lengthy questionnaires on issues, which will be shared with league members.

Bullock made clear that he is upset. "To not be here is something that should be of concern to you as elected officials," he told mayors and city council members on the league's board.

"Quite honestly, he [Herbert] doesn't come to many of the functions that we invite him to because of scheduling conflicts," Bullock said. "I think he's saying that we're not a priority."

Lynn Pace, the Holladay City Council member who is president of the league, said: "I am disappointed that we weren't important enough for him to adjust his schedule." But he realizes the governor is busy, "and we don't want to poke him in the eye."

Marty Carpenter, Herbert's campaign manager, said his boss was unable to attend because it is the same day as the governor's gala.

While that event is at night and the debate would have been during the day, Carpenter said the gala "is sort of an all-day thing for us as far as preparation, and there is some rehearsal to it. We just couldn't accommodate the date with the governor's schedule."

He said the league did not have much flexibility because it wanted the debate to be held during its annual convention, which was already set.

"It is something that we wanted to do," said Carpenter. He added that when the governor was unable to participate in the debate as requested, his campaign suggested the candidates for lieutenant governor could hold a debate at the convention instead.

Bullock told the league's board that staff wasn't interested because the lieutenant governor "is not the governor."

Weinholtz said: "I'm disappointed because the people of Utah deserve to see the gubernatorial candidates side by side debating the issues that are important to them."

So far, only one debate has been scheduled, sponsored by the Utah Debate Commission, on Sept. 26. However, Weinholtz said four other groups have issued invitations, including the League of Cities and Towns.

"I'm just disappointed he [Herbert] isn't making time for these important debates," Weinholtz said.