Gov. Linda Lingle and Lt. Gov. James "Duke" Aiona will suspend their weekly radio shows after this week so as not to raise any equal-time issues for the radio stations that host the shows.

Lingle appears for an hour on Wednesday mornings with host Rick Hamada on KHVH 830 AM and Aiona was available for an hour on Monday afternoons with host Mike Buck on KHVH to discuss state issues and take questions from listeners. Lingle's show is also heard on stations on the Neighbor Islands.

The Federal Communications Commission has a rule that generally requires radio and television stations to provide equal time to political candidates. News shows are exempt.

Two leading Democrats, former Mililani state Sen. Randall Iwase and Wai'anae harbormaster William Aila Jr., are running in the September primary for the right to challenge the Republican governor in the general election in November.

"The weekly radio shows have been outstanding vehicles for keeping the public informed about important issues facing our state," Lingle said in a statement. "The interactive shows have provided discussion forums for residents to ask the lieutenant governor and me questions and raise ideas on how we can improve state government."

In February, Lingle and Aiona announced they would not do any public-service announcements this year because it is an election year. Some Democrats had accused the administration of using public-service announcements to improve the Republican governor's image.