His opponent, Ralph Becker, never showed.

Buhler gobbled up an entire lunch hour before the Salt Lake County Bar Association, touting his record and belittling Becker's - without a single rebuttal from the front-runner.

"Somebody once told me one of the most important keys to success is showing up," Buhler said in his opening remarks when Becker was believed to be merely tardy. "I'm glad to be here today."

As the hour passed, Buhler and moderator Chris Vanocur of KTVX News speculated about what might prevent Becker from attending the debate.

"Do you think he's ducking you or running as if he's already won?" Vanocur asked Buhler.

Buhler said "there are those who want to call this race" in Becker's favor, but "it's not over. People should have a chance to [hear us debate and] make a decision.

"I certainly hope he's not ducking me," Buhler added.

So where was Becker?

Blame a calendaring flub. Utah's House minority leader was at Capitol Hill in meetings, unaware of the debate.

"I feel terrible," Becker said. "Neither me [nor] anyone on my staff has any record of being notified of it" until after the debate started and someone with the bar association called the campaign headquarters.

Some of the 30 or so attorneys gathered for the event at the Downtown Marriott expressed frustration with the failed debate.

"It really is a disappointment not to have Ralph Becker here," Jay Curtis said when he directed a question to Vanocur and Buhler. "I'd like to hear both of [the candidates] speak."

Becker and Buhler already have had dozens of debates - dating back to before last month's primary. And members of the bar association and others who want to see the candidates square off again will have plenty of other opportunities, including a KUED Channel 7 debate scheduled to air Friday at 8 p.m.

The Salt Lake Tribune and KUTV will host a mayoral debate Oct. 30.

- Rosemary Winters