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So one of the two Democratic gubernatorial candidates scheduled to appear at a televised forum tonight in Naples can't make it.

It isn't like that signals the end of the world. Well, given today's date of 6-6-6, maybe it does signal the end of the world.

But assuming we're all still around this evening, there should be no reason not to press forward with the candidate forum.

Just because U.S. Rep. Jim Davis has to be in Washington for a vote on homeland security issues doesn't mean two candidates for governor can't face off as scheduled at the Philharmonic Center for the Arts.

While the event sponsor, the Naples Area Chamber of Commerce, tapped Davis and state Sen. Rod Smith to appear on the Philharmonic stage to answer questions posed by some of Southwest Florida's top journalists, as well as by me, the gubernatorial field is by no means limited to those two candidates.

Even when you take Republicans out of the mix — they have their own Philharmonic forum scheduled next week — there's a deep pool of potential substitutes for Davis on stage.

In all, there are close to two dozen candidates running to replace Jeb Bush. At least eight identify themselves as Democrats.

Granted, not all have the gravitas of a Davis or a Smith. But where is it written that a candidate with no name recognition, no funding, no experience in government, no organization, no poll numbers and no party support can't win the highest elected office in the state?

Chamber President Michael Reagen says the candidates were chosen to appear with the help of Democratic and Republican officials. "We turned to the leadership of the parties involved and asked 'Who are the major, or serious, candidates?' " Reagen said in explaining the selection process.

"Major" and "serious" are fine criteria, if that's what you're looking for. But they completely discount the positive attributes of some of the lesser-known candidates. If "colorful," "persistent" or "non-traditional" had been used, the Philharmonic stage might have taken on a whole different appearance. There are independent candidates, repeat candidates, a Libertarian, a Socialist and a lot of characters.

By limiting the field to Davis and Smith on the Democrat side and Tom Gallagher and Charlie Crist on the Republican side, the Chamber is missing out on candidates such as write-in candidate and bartender Jamie Gannon, whose Web site, jamiegannonforgovernor.com, includes not one word about the candidate, but does include a link to "Meet Democratic Singles." Give the people what they want. Don't get bogged down in a lot of boring policy talk. Smart.

Also absent will be Monroe Lee, a Democrat from Gainesville who is referred to on several political Web sites, without further explanation, as "The Art Truck Guy."

There's Bernie DeCastro, who, among his qualifications for office, lists 18 years spent in prison as a convicted felon.

And Wilfredo Papa-Roqui Maneiro II, a candidate with no party affiliation and no money raised who refers to himself as "Papa X."

There's no word yet on when the Democratic forum will be rescheduled. Or for that matter, when the forum for Libertarians, Socialists, independents and characters will be scheduled.