Contenders for Flathead County’s District 1 county commissioner seat remain at an impasse over a public debate, but both candidates will participate in candidate forums in the coming weeks.

Republican candidate Phil Mitchell of Whitefish recently declined to debate Democratic candidate Stacey Schnebel of Coram at a debate proposed by the Daily Inter Lake. The two are vying in the Nov. 4 general election for the commissioner seat currently held by Cal Scott.

Earlier this week Mitchell sent a letter to Schnebel, outlining questions he wanted answered on county issues before he would consider a debate.

“If I get some answers from Stacey, we’ll think about it,” Mitchell said, reiterating his stand that he wants a baseline of her positions on county issues before he’ll agree to a one-on-one debate.

Schnebel, who was in Chicago for several days this week attending her grandfather’s funeral, said Thursday morning she told Mitchell she was out of town and would respond to his letter when she returned. She said she’s still working on that response.

Meanwhile, the last stretch of the election season has begun, and both candidates have agreed to attend candidate forums in Bigfork and Kalispell in early October.

Schnebel and Mitchell confirmed they will attend a candidate forum sponsored by the Bigfork Eagle and a Bigfork High School government class on Oct. 6 in Bigfork.

That forum, which starts at 7 p.m. at Bigfork Elementary School, will be moderated by David Reese, editor of the Bigfork Eagle, and three members of the high school government class. It’s an opportunity for students and the public to learn about the political process and to educate the community about candidates running for county commissioner and the state Legislature.

Both commissioner candidates also will attend a candidate forum at 7 p.m. Oct. 7 hosted by the Kalispell City Council at Kalispell City Hall. During that forum, candidates will be brought in one by one for a short question-and-answer session moderated by Mayor Mark Johnson. Each candidate will be allowed to make brief comments about their positions.

“There will be no opportunity for debate,” Kalispell council member Phil Guiffrida said. “It’s a moderated sit-down with the mayor.”

The Kalispell forum will be broadcast live on cable channel 190 and will be replayed periodically until the election.

Schnebel announced Thursday she is planning a series of townhall meetings open to the public and her Republican opponent. The informal meetings will allow the public an opportunity to ask questions and provide feedback in a discussion-style format, Schnebel said

“The goal of the events is solely informational and no campaign fundraising will take place,” she said, adding the townhall meetings are her response to Mitchell’s refusal to participate in a public debate.

Mitchell said early Thursday he hadn’t received information about the townhall meetings and couldn’t say yet whether he would attend.

The townhall meetings organized by Schnebel will be held at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 1, at Columbia Falls High School’s Little Theater; 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 8, at the KM Building Glacier Gallery in Kalispell; and 6:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 10, at the Whitefish Center for Performing Arts at Whitefish Middle School.

Features editor Lynnette Hintze may be reached at 758-4421 or by email at lhintze@dailyinterlake.com.