LINCOLN - Nebraska Republicans might not see all their top governor candidates on the same debate stage before the May 10 primary election. University of Nebraska Regent Jim Pillen has continued to turn down debates, including one this week on NTV News.

His campaign told the Axtell, Nebraska-based TV station that he would not be a participant, according to an email from the station's leadership to the other candidates. Pillen's campaign manager Kenny Zoeller described debates as "often just political theater."

“We are going to continue to manage our outreach in a way that serves the interests of Republican voters, not the ratings of media outlets,” he said.

Zoeller went on to say that the media uses debates to pit GOP candidates against one another and hijack Republican voters' agenda.

Pillen also rejected an invitation to a debate hosted by online news outlet Nebraska Sunrise News, citing Theresa Thibodeau and Breland Ridenour's absence as the reason for not attending. The Pillen campaign said Charles Herbster, a competing candidate, had worked to exclude them. Sunrise News publisher Fletcher Reel called the claim made by Pillen's campaign "complete nonsense." Reel said his organization chose who to include in the debates based on "viability," including the amount of money each candidate had raised.

GOP governor candidates Herbster, Thibodeau, and State Sen. Brett Lindstrom have agreed to participate in the first debate of the race, scheduled for March 24 in Lincoln. That event will be hosted by Nebraska Public Media. Pillen declined to participate.

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