State House challengers John Mabry, a Democrat, and Neill Snider, a Libertarian, issued a joint challenge Tuesday to their Republican opponent, Rep. Charles “Doc” Anderson, asking him to engage in a full-fledged debate.

Mabry, a lawyer and former state representative from Waco, said the candidates’ opportunities to go toe-to-toe with each other have been minimal and insufficient. He said the lack of debate is particularly troublesome given the major challenges facing the state, most notably the projected budget shortfall that some estimates put as high as $21 billion.

His and Snider’s remedy: a debate, complete with questions and opportunities to respond to each other.

“We’re willing to meet Doc Anderson anyplace, anytime, to debate,” Mabry said.

“Maybe we can get something arranged at the Heart O’ Texas Fair and Rodeo,” added Snider, a Waco mechanical contractor, who has run against Democratic state Rep. Jim Dunnam in previous election cycles.

An Anderson aide dismissed the debate challenge, noting the representative agreed to an Oct. 19 candidate forum hosted by the Waco chapter of the League of Women Voters and also will be at a regular candidate event put on by the West Kiwanis Club.

“There’s a lot of (events), so I don’t know what they’re talking about,” said the aide, Kurt Krakowian.

He said the number of events on the table for this year is the same as in 2004, when Mabry’s and Anderson’s roles were reversed and Mabry was the incumbent.

Mabry said he plans to attend both events Krakowian mentioned, but he said neither offers the candidates a chance to fully engage each other on issues.

The West event gives all the candidates on the ballot chances to introduce themselves, but not too much else, he said.

“You say, ‘Hi, my name’s John Mabry,’” Mabry said. “It’s a 30-second or a minute-long thing, but it’s not a debate.”

Krakowian said he didn’t see the difference between the League of Women Voters event and a debate.

Judging by past years’ League of Women Voters forums, Mabry said there wouldn’t be opportunities for rebuttals or time for direct sparring on issues between the opponents.

The league’s president, Ann-Claire Anderson, said the event technically is a forum, not a debate. But she said some debating of issues is likely to break out.

The event also will feature candidates for McLennan County district attorney, said Anderson, who is no relation to the representative.

Mabry also accused Anderson of shielding himself from questions from members of the media.

“Mr. Anderson has a habit of speaking through a campaign spokesman,” Mabry said, before noting that Anderson’s campaign spokesman, Todd Smith, is a registered lobbyist.

Krakowian said Anderson has been in front of the public and readily accessible.

“We’ve been all over the community,” he said. “It’s not like he’s hiding.”

mshapiro@wacotrib.com

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