Colorado gubernatorial candidates John Hickenlooper and Dan Maes say they’ll stick to the issues as they prepare for nine debates before Election Day.
Hickenlooper and Maes, who are the Democratic and Republican nominees, respectively, issued a joint statement Tuesday pledging to avoid personal attacks and to debate Colorado issues at the debates and at other, smaller forums.
The statement didn’t mention Tom Tancredo, the American Constitution Party candidate.
It did say any invitation to a third-party candidate would be up to debate sponsors.
“We have every intention of being at every debate,” said Tancredo campaign spokesman Guy Blasi.
Tancredo participated in a three- way debate last week.
“Coloradans are sick and tired of the personal attacks that tend to typify election season,” Maes said in the statement.
Hickenlooper, Denver’s mayor, was unopposed for the Democratic nomination to replace Gov. Bill Ritter, who is leaving after one term.
Maes, an Evergreen businessman and Tea Party favorite, defeated former U.S. Rep. Scott McInnis for the GOP nomination.
Tancredo, also a former U.S. congressman, bolted from the GOP to mount his own bid.
Debate schedule
The Hickenlooper-Maes debates:
Saturday: Club 20 coalition, Grand Junction
Sept. 17: Progressive 15 group, Loveland
Sept. 25: Action 22 coalition, Colorado Springs
Oct. 5: KMGH-TV Channel 7, Denver
Oct. 12: The Pueblo Chieftain, Pueblo
Oct. 13: The Denver Post and KUSA-TV Channel 9, Denver
Oct. 14: Colorado Association of Commerce and Industry, Denver
Oct. 22: KDVR-TV Channel 13, Denver
Oct. 29: KCNC-TV Channel 4, Denver
