To the editor:

The three gubernatorial candidates who did not attend the “Water and the Future of Kansas” conference in Lawrence on March 5 as reported in your article (“Absent gubernatorial candidates mystify state water officials”, LJW, March 6) had all notified us in advance of their schedule conflicts or uncertainties and expressed their regrets at missing such an important forum. I stayed in contact with each campaign up to the last minute in hopes that changes might allow their participation in our town hall meeting on water issues.

In the last days prior to the conference, I invited the candidates to send a representative to speak on their behalf. None chose to do so, mainly I believe, because of concerns of surrogates trying to faithfully speak for the candidates on such far-ranging and complex subjects.

We were disappointed that three of the four candidates did not attend, but all of them responded promptly to our invitations.

M. Lee Allison, director

Kansas Geological Survey