Candidates Who Missed the T/E School Board Debate Explain Their Decisions

The two candidates for T/E Schol Board who are taking their critics head-on in interviews with TE Patch.

Republican candidates Tara LaFiura (T/E School Board Region 1) and Liz Mercogliano (T/E School Boar Region 2) sat down for on camera interviews with TE Patch and explained why they were absent. It was a question that was not answered during the debate, leaving both open for pointed criticism from Democrat party insiders who questioned their commitments to the race and to serving should they be elected.

LaFiura, as you will hear in the video clips, said she was keeping a previous commitment. You wil also hear hear what she said when Patch asked her where she was that was more important (a question posed by Democrats on the night of the debate).

Mercogliano explained that hers was essentially a strategy decision. She opted instead to go door to door to meet voters on the night of the debate as she says she has been doing throughout her camapign.