MONROE — It’s looking less and less likely that all Mineral Springs Town Council candidates will be present at the same forum leading up to the election on Nov. 3.

In an e-mail Thursday, candidate Charles Bowden said he is canceling his independent forum, scheduled for this Thursday at the Mineral Springs Music Barn, “due to the refusal of the incumbent candidates, for town council and mayor of Mineral Springs, to participate in a debate with myself.”

Bowden proposed the debate in a letter to all candidates dated Sept. 26. The forum would have included two moderators: one chosen by him and one chosen by the incumbents.

Bowden and incumbents Jerry Countryman, Janet Critz and Melody LaMonica are vying for three council seats. Mayor Rick Becker is up for re-election but is running unopposed.

Bowden added that he will not participate in the League of Women Voters’ forum scheduled for 7 p.m. on Oct. 20 at the Western Union Elementary School auditorium.

Critz said that even if any of the candidates had wanted to attend Bowden’s forum, they wouldn’t have been able to because it was scheduled on the same night as their Town Council meeting.

Bowden said he did not realize the time conflict.

Town meetings have been scheduled on the second Thursday of the month since the town incorporated.

“I have no idea why he would propose such a ridiculous opportunity,” she said. “We would have been remiss in our town duties to make such a decision.”

Becker said it was “unfair” of Bowden to expect candidates to choose.

“I certainly wasn’t going to expect our council members to miss a meeting for a forum,” he said.