Dazon Sigo of Pendleton asks a question of the gubernatorial candidates Tuesday in Portland.

After Tuesday’s debate, Oregonians still do not know their next governor’s vision for the state.

But Oregonians — and the nation — learned what was important to youth, who did all the questioning of the three candidates. They asked about suicide prevention, foster care, lack of school counselors, gun control, vaping, rural high-speed internet, Native American history and other issues.

None asked about PERS, the U.S. Supreme Court nomination of Brett Kavanaugh, abortion or many of the other issues on which Gov. Kate Brown or challenger Knute Buehler have campaigned. Those topics likely will come up tonight at the second debate in Medford and the final one next Tuesday in Portland.

Buehler had wanted 10 debates — two in each congressional district — but Brown agreed to only three, adding to the perception that she is staying out of the media eye except for choreographed campaign events. The debates are bunched together over eight days and all are west of the Cascades.

It was up to Children First for Oregon, which initiated the Debate for Oregon’s Future and hosted it with Pamplin Media and KOIN, to bring in the voices of youth and of rural Oregon. This apparently was the first gubernatorial debate in Oregon, and possibly in the U.S., in which youth asked all the questions.

“Everyone got to express their opinion, got their voices to be heard, and I think that’s really good,” participant Dazon Sigo, 17, of Pendleton, said afterward.

The youth asked insightful questions, repeatedly focusing on mental health. Oregon’s local and statewide leaders should seize on that emphasis and finally make mental health an absolute priority in schools, communities and the state.

Yet too often, Brown and Buehler maneuvered around the questions, weaving in their usual campaign lines instead of giving direct answers.

As a result, what Oregonians learned from the candidates was not new. Rep. Buehler, R-Bend, contends Brown is a failed leader, especially in education, and he would be better leader and problem-solver. Democrat Brown is proud of her record and promises more of the same.

As for Patrick Starnes, the Independent Party candidate, he was bypassed for several of the questions and did not establish himself as a viable alternative to Brown or Buehler. This was a lost opportunity; he was not invited to the next two debates.

Oregonians still don’t know how Buehler would lead and how he would fulfill his vow to bring diverse interests together to achieve his stated goals. He would be a new face in state leadership. Brown has much more of a track record in politics and public office. However, Oregonians still don’t know what Brown specifically would do going forward.

Who “won” the debate? That answer is clear: the youth questioners. They are not future leaders. They are leaders today.