This year’s mayoral front-runners have backed out of a debate planned for Monday on a community radio station, citing a lack of organization.

The debate was to be held on University of Toronto radio station CIUT 89.5. Many observers were surprised when long-shot candidate Sarah Thomson was invited but not Karen Stintz or David Soknacki.

But Saturday night, the campaigns of mayor Rob Ford, Olivia Chow and John Tory issued a joint statement saying they were backing out.

“After much consideration, we the under signed will not be participating in the CIUT debate planned for Monday,” the statement said.

“After multiple attempts for clarification on which candidates would be attending the debate, our questions have still been left unanswered. Combined, we feel that we have been misled by the organizers of this debate. As always, we welcome opportunities to discuss the issues facing our city with other candidates and look forward to well-planned debates with transparent processes.”

Station manager Ken Stowar said he learned of the withdrawal via media reports.

“In all fairness they have not informed me personally,” Stowar said after the statement was released. “I have sent (the handlers of Ford, Tory, Chow, Thomson and Soknacki) emails and they have not responded yet.”

Stowar told the Star — before the joint statement was issued — that he’d wanted to host a debate that was more alternative than the one hosted by City TV in March. That debate with five candidates —Ford, Chow and Tory, Stintz and Soknacki was criticized for being unruly.

“That was my choice. I wanted good radio and I wanted some spice,” he said Saturday.

Thomson famously accused Ford of groping her at an event in 2013, allegations he denied. And Thomson also previously hosted a show on CIUT before entering the race. But Stowar says it was the backlash she faced following the groping allegations that made him want to invite her to the debate, not any favouritism stemming from her radio show.

An invitation was later extended to Soknacki as a sort of insurance policy against any of the other candidates backing out, Stowar said.

“It was a draw of names out of a hat, between Soknacki and Stintz, to be quite honest,” Stowar said.

Stowar, who was attempting to arrange a candidates’ debate for the first time, said his focus had lately shifted to raising the $160,000 needed for a new radio transmitter. The existing one failed suddenly last week, plunging the station into uncertainty.

“I have been practically sleepless for the past week, I’m totally exhausted,” Stowar said. “In hindsight, I’d probably bitten off more than I could chew. I’m trying to handle so much right now.”

Related:

Campaigns baffled by debate including Sarah Thomson, excluding Karen Stintz and David Soknacki

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Stowar had planned to host two more debates with another “mix” of candidates, including fringe candidates, over the next few months before then a final one nearer the October election.

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The station is “licensed to be different,” Stowar said. “It was our party, and we’re in control of who we are inviting. I wanted to establish something that was not typical,” he said. “I wanted a different dynamic.”

Stintz said Friday she was disappointed by the station’s decision. Thomson had said she was happy to “finally” be included.

With files from Daniel Dale

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