Is Ben R. Luján ducking forums?

Is 3rd Congressional District Democratic candidate Ben R. Luján ducking forums? That’s what two of his opponents are saying. And Luján isn’t responding.

The 3rd District candidates had been scheduled to participate in a forum this evening in Clovis, but it was canceled on Tuesday after Luján backed out. His withdrawal came the day after he, Republican candidate Dan East and independent candidates Carol Miller and Ron Simmons participated in a forum in Santa Fe.

Both forums were sponsored by the Association of Commerce and Industry.

A news release from East said Luján cited a scheduling conflict in backing out of today’s forum, even though he confirmed his attendance at the forum at least a month ago. East has repeatedly accused Luján of ducking debates throughout the campaign.

“I want to know if he is scared to face me, or if he is scared of his constituents,” East said. “He showed up last night in Santa Fe for the ACI forum, but that was ‘safe’ territory for him: A third of the audience was his family or staff. His handlers are afraid to let him get outside of the Santa Fe area.”

Miller agreed in a news release, saying that Luján put on a “poor performance” in Santa Fe despite “reading prepared statements.” Because of that, she said, “it is no surprise he backed out of the forum in Clovis at the last possible moment. It is disappointing that the other candidates were not given the opportunity to participate as scheduled at the agreed upon time and place.”

Luján spokesman Mark Nicastre said he had no comment but pointed to a news release from the campaign stating that Luján “showed knowledge, a willingness to address tough issues and the ability to stand up for New Mexico” at the Santa Fe forum.

Miller sent a letter to ACI criticizing its decision to cancel the forum, a decision she said was made “to accommodate a single candidate without consultation with the remaining candidates.”

“There were plenty of opportunities for Mr. Luján to inform you that he had yet another of his famous ‘scheduling conflicts,’” she wrote.

Beverlee McClure, president of ACI, said in a statement released by her office that the Curry County Chamber of Commerce decided the forum should be rescheduled because Luján and the two U.S. Senate candidates could not attend.

“The chamber believes a later date that could accommodate more of the candidates’ schedules was in the best interest of the community,” she said. “The new date has not yet been set.”

Miller said she’s eager for more forums.

“The people deserve as many chances as possible to see all of the candidates together so they can make an informed decision as to who will best represent them in Congress, not who can read a script,” she said. “We pick up supporters at every event because it is clear that the voters want a well-informed candidate known for integrity, experience and commitment to the people and communities of the 3rd Congressional District.”

East said Luján’s refusal to attend the forum is “outrageous.”

“How are the people of Clovis supposed to know who he is or what he stands for if he refuses to tell them? How can the people of northern New Mexico trust him to represent them if he doesn’t show up? It’s outrageous that he denied the voters the right to learn about the candidates in this race because of his selfish pride and his fear,” he said.

Update, 3:30 p.m.

Luján campaign manager Carlos Trujillo said in an interview conducted after this article was originally published that Luján isn’t ducking forums. He said Luján participated in “multiple forums and debates” during the primary and will do so during the general election.

“I quite frankly find it rather absurd that our opponents are accusing us of ducking these joint appearances, because we just did one on Monday,” Trujillo said, adding that a “legitimate scheduling conflict” with a “longstanding event” forced Luján to back out of today’s forum.

He said Luján will participate in another forum next Friday in Clovis sponsored by the New Mexico Municipal League.

“There’s no one more accessible in the 3rd Congressional District race than Ben Ray Luján,” Trujillo said.