A write-in candidate for the Third Congressional District seat wasn’t permitted to appear at Wednesday’s debate at Allegheny College’s Ford Memorial Chapel hosted by the college’s Center for Political Participation.

Steven Porter of Wattsburg, who ran two unsuccessful campaigns for the Third District seat as a Democrat, had filed as an independent. However, a group of Mercer County Democrats challeged Porter’s nominating papers, claiming that he did not have enough valid signatures. In August, a Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court judge agreed. Porter has appealed to the Pennsylvania State Supreme Court and is awaiting a ruling.

Porter appeared about a half hour before the debate and asked to participate.

Dan Shea, the Center for Political Participation’s director, said since Porter is not on the ballot he wasn’t allowed to take part.

Porter presented a letter from his attorney, Lawrence M. Otter of Doylestown, saying if the debate is broadcast it would run afoul of Federal Communications Commission regulations regarding equal time. Porter then left the forum.

The debate is scheduled to be broadcast Oct. 18 at 7 p.m. on WSEE-TV Channel 35. It also is scheduled to air at a time to be determined Sunday on the cable channel C-SPAN.