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This story was updated at 3:20 p.m. on Sept. 23, 2014.

Less than 45 days remain before the Nov. 6 election and some Montgomery County Republican candidates say their Democratic opponents are refusing to engage them in debates or forums.

However, Democrats say that is not the case, but rather that the GOP has tried to schedule the events without coordinating dates and times that suit all candidates, giving them little choice but to decline.

Democrats outnumber Republicans about 3-to-1 in Montgomery County and often the general election is viewed by voters as a formality, where Democrats are confirmed to the seats for which they won a nomination in the primary.

With contested races in many legislative and councilmanic races, Republican Central Committee Chairman Michael Higgs said GOP candidates are trying to engage their opponents in open dialogue.

Yet few forums or debates have been scheduled ahead of the Nov. 4 general election.

Elected Democrats in Montgomery County are cowards and run from every opportunity to have open and free debate on the issues, Higgs alleged.

Actively avoiding events where their opponent gets a stage is common Democratic strategy, said Jim Shalleck, the Republican candidate for county executive.

Not so, according to Democrats.

There is no coordinated party agenda in terms of debates and forums here in Montgomery County, Kevin Walling, chairman of the Democratic Central Committee, said in an email.

More:
GOP says Democrats ducking debates -- Gazette.Net