Mayoral candidate Jeffrey M. Smith said he doesn't want to appear on WATN-AM 1240's noon talk show "Hotline" because his opponent, Mayor Jeffrey E. Graham, is the host of the show when there isn't an election going on.

"The fact is, this is Mr. Graham's show," Mr. Smith said. "He's been doing it for 20 years."

Joseph L. Brosk has been filling in for Mr. Graham since Mr. Graham's mayoral re-election campaign became official.

"Mr. Brosk has donated to his campaign," Mr. Smith said. "It's his coworker, his place of employment. I know that the professionals are going to be as professional as possible, but you can't ignore those facts. It's not really a neutral ground. Why put yourself in that position?"

Mr. Graham has appeared once already on the talk show, and plans to do so again in October. Mr. Graham acknowledged that Mr. Brosk donated to his campaign, and said he believes it was a $5 donation.

“You can't just eighty-six one portion of the media," Mr. Graham told me in a brief interview earlier today, then added, gesturing in no particular direction: "It's like me not talking to you just because one guy doesn't like me.”

Mr. Smith informed WATN of his decision in a letter today.

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