In this politically prolific once-every-four-years season, locals have been dismayed by the lack of candidate forums and debates.

Fortunately, several groups have stepped forward to help fill that void. Even when sponsoring groups have right- or left-leaning agendas, candidate forums and debates over the years have provided great opportunities for citizens to hear directly from the people running for office. But for these events to work, credibility is key: Moderators in debates and panelists in forums must do their best to avoid favoritism; rules should be announced and strictly followed; and debate or forum sponsors should be honest up front.

On that last count, the Kootenai County Democratic Club faltered.

The club issued a press release Tuesday afternoon, inviting the media and the general public to an Idaho legislative debate on Friday. The press release stated that four candidates for two seats had been invited, continuing the club’s tradition of hosting debates “for decades.” “There will be an opportunity for the audience to ask questions so it will be very interesting,” the release said. Invitees were Democratic challengers Richard Kohles and Kathy Kahn, and incumbent legislators Rep. Eric Redman and Rep. Vito Barbieri.

While the press release didn’t lie — all four had been invited — it also didn’t tell the truth.

Long before the “debate” was announced, Barbieri had written that he would not attend. Redman hadn’t responded. He told The Press his first realization of the debate occurred when he read about it in Thursday’s newspaper. Late Thursday afternoon he said he had never received emails the club said he’d been sent, then called back later to say that was his mistake — he found an email that he apparently had deleted. Redman noted when he hadn’t responded to emails, the club should simply have called him.

The Democratic Club was deceptive in promoting a public event that it knew or strongly suspected would be nothing but an opportunity for the two Democratic candidates to campaign without challenge. In our view that’s worse than dirty politics; it’s exactly what the minority party in Kootenai County does not need and voters don’t deserve.