Governor debate now down to three

Frontiersman staff

MAT-SU — The list of candidates participating in the second round of local events leading up to the gubernatorial has been winnowed to three.

Initially, the greater Palmer and greater Wasilla chambers of commerce said that after Thursday's forum they would choose four candidates from among the 12 seeking the state's highest office to return Thursday for a debate.

Scheduling conflicts caused one of the candidates, Republican Ralph Samuels, to decline the offer to return. So the chambers offered his slot in the lineup to Democrat Hollis French, who initially accepted.

But then today Diana Straub, who is organizing the series of election-related events, said French, too, had a conflict. So the chambers have decided to go with three candidates instead of four.

Those three are: Republican Bill Walker and Democrats Ethan Berkowitz and Bob Poe.