Parsippany Patch was informed that because evening library events are a violation of the state of emergency that the administration predicts will be in effect Monday, the Patch Candidates' Debate scheduled for that night at the Lake Hiawatha Library will not be permitted to proceed.

That means the event is cancelled and that Parsippany voters will be denied an opportunity to compare the candidates face to face and head to head prior to the Tuesday election.

Thanks to the Par-Troy Council of PTAs, voters did get a chance to hear their school board candidates. Voters will not have that opportunity to see the Town Council candidates go head-to-head on their visions, on the issues, on how they define the role and duties of council member or the purpose—civic, constitutional—of the body.

We thank the Parsippany Library and the Lake Parsippany Property Owners Association for their generosity and demonstrated commitment to democracy.

We apologize to and thank the candidates who were enthusiastic about going head to head with their opponents in civic discourse and to the voters who, understanding their civic duty to be informed, wanted to get to know their candidates better so that they could make the best decisions at the polls and choose leaders on the basis of facts, issues and independent, critical thought.

We wish all the candidates and the voters good luck on Nov. 6.