For many years, the beginning of every Vermont campaign’s homestretch has been marked by a gubernatorial debate at the Tunbridge Fair, broadcast by WDEV Radio. It’s the customary first leg in a series of campaign forums.

Until now. The Fair is this weekend, and the debate was scheduled for Thursday morning. But on Wednesday afternoon, former lieutenant governor and WDEV host David Zuckerman issued a statement touting the event as best he could, but ending with this little wet fart:

Sad. Ken Squier is likely rolling in his grave.

Which raises some questions. Is the governor going to show up for any debates at all? Or does he take the voters for granted? Does he think sharing a stage with Amanda Janoo is beneath him?

I hear a couple of potential objections from the back of the room. First, the governor has a busy schedule and maybe he just couldn’t make the time. To which I say, nonsense. The Tunbridge Fair is scheduled far in advance, and the WDEV debate has always been on Thursday morning. Besides, the Fair is right up Phil Scott’s alley — an earnest if slightly overwrought paean to Vermont’s rural and agricultural traditions. It’s his home turf, for Pete’s sake.

Second, maybe he didn’t want to appear in a debate moderated by Zuckerman, a staunch Progressive who ran against Scott in 2020. Well, Zuckerman and/or WDEV anticipated that potential hurdle. The debate was to be co-hosted by Zuckerman and fellow “Vermont Viewpoint” host Brad Ferland, a former top official in the Scott administration.

In other words, fair and balanced.

Let’s hope that our governor has enough regard for his constituents to actually participate in a campaign including multiple debates with Janoo. He’s asking for another two years as the most powerful person in state government, answerable to the people who elect him. Putting in the work of campaigning, or at least making a show of it, is literally the least he could do.