It was a difficult moment for Carol Buchanan, president of the Hilton Neighborhood Association.

Her group has been hosting Board of Education and Township Committee candidates debates for more than a decade, but this time some of the candidates failed to appear.

According to Buchanan, Joel Ziegler and Bart Albini, Republican candidates for the Township Committee, did not respond to the Association's initial and repeated invitations until 5 p.m. Thursday evening, when Mary Devon O'Brien, chair of the Maplewood Republican Committee, sent their written responses to the debate questions to Buchanan. No reason was given for the decision not to attend the debate in person.

Democratic candidates Mayor Vic DeLuca and India Larrier were on hand to make statements and answer questions from the audience.

Buchanan decided that despite the fact that the two Republican candidates did not appear in person, their responses would be read aloud during the debate (Jim Buchanan performed the duty). The results are available here on video segments divided by questions. Joy Yagid of SOMAtv has also graciously provided a full end-to-end video which is available on YouTube and is embedded here.

Albini, DeLuca, Larrier and Ziegler are vying for two seats on the Maplewood Township Committee, a five-person governmental body. Terms are for three-years each. The election takes place November 8.