Dr. Mike Munger, Libertarian candidate for governor, won't disclose the personal financial information requested by The News & Observer and the Charlotte Observer, unless he's allowed to participate in the gubernatorial debates.

The McClatchy newspapers have called for all three governor candidates, including recent tax returns.

“I categorically refuse to participate in this farce, unless I'm allowed to participate in the debates,” the Duke professor said. He said he doesn't object to the request itself because both newspapers have covered all three campaigns fairly.

“They believe the voters of North Carolina -- and not some elite group representing the wealthy and the politically powerful -- should decide," he said.

"What I object to is the intrusive scrutiny of financial disclosure when I'm not to receive the benefit of simple fairness. The fact that McCrory and Perdue have excluded me from even one of the debates is an outrage,” he said.

The race for North Carolina governor is now officially a three-person contest. The Libertarian Party of North Carolina formally presented its list of 41 candidates for the 2008 General Election to the State Board of Elections June 30.

Dr. Michael Munger tops the list as the LPNC gubernatorial candidate. Dr. Munger is joined by Phillip Rhodes, running for lieutenant governor and Mark McMains, running for commissioner of insurance.

Libertarians will also contest 25 seats in the General Assembly, 14 in previously unopposed contests. At the local level, five Libertarians are running for County Commission and one is running for Mecklenberg Register of Deeds.

Chris Cole is the Libertarian candidate for U.S. Senate. There are five Libertarian candidates for Congressional seats: Will Adkins, District 2; Maximillian Longley, District 4; Thomas Hill, District 8; Andy Grum, District 9, and; Keith Smith, District 11.