Maine Governor Paul LePage a No-Show at Candidate Forum in Portland

 It was supposed to be the first time all three candidates for Maine governor appeared together to speak at the same event.

But it didn't happen.

Gov. Paul LePage pulled out of the forum hosted by the Environmental & Energy Technology Council of Maine at the last minute Friday morning. LePage issued a statement accusing event organizers of arranging a format that put "politics ahead of public policy."

Independent Eliot Cutler and Democratic Rep. Mike Michaud both spoke, with Cutler apologizing for the "political shenanigans."

The E2 Tech event focused on energy.

Cutler said Maine has a "largely untapped resource basket" when it comes to clean energy production. Michaud also said the state needs to "double down" on expanding renewable energy and on energy conservation.