Patrick Starnes, the Independent Party’s candidate for governor, will take part in at least one of the three candidates’ debates planned for this election season. That’s good, but a real question remains unanswered. Starnes represents one of what the state considers its three major political parties.

Why, so far, has he been excluded from the other two debates?

The Independent Party joined Oregon’s political big leagues in 2015, when its membership topped, barely, 5 percent of the state’s registered voters. Today it has 120,467 members, small potatoes compared to the state’s 956,326 Democrats and 699,769 Republicans. That may not sound like many voters, but it’s almost three times more than all minor parties in the state combined.

Starnes, meanwhile, is an interesting character in his own right. A cabinetmaker who, with his wife, restores old houses, he holds a history degree from the University of Oregon and has served two terms on the Douglas Education Service District board and one on the board of the McKenzie School District, east of Eugene.

As for the debate, it will be held Oct. 2 in Portland. Sponsored by KOIN television, Children First for Oregon and the Pamplin Media Group, it would break the mold even without Starnes’ participation. While a pair of media representatives will moderate the evening, all questions will come directly from children and young people.

It may be that the Independent Party will be unable to continue to attract enough registered voters to maintain its major party status in years to come. That remains to be seen.

For now, however, it is a major party in the state, and it should be treated as such. Its candidates for statewide office should be included in all events that include both Democrats and Republicans. Starnes should be invited to all those events held before the November election.

Without that exposure Oregonians are unable to judge Starnes or future Independent candidates against the rest of the field. That’s not fair to the candidates or the voters.