Menino Doesn’t Show For Final Mayoral Forum

Thursday night was supposed to be the last public forum for Boston’s mayoral candidates before the preliminary election, but Mayor Thomas Menino didn’t show.

Menino was scheduled to attend the MassVote community forum, but he bowed out, saying he had too many other commitments and had already participated in more events with the other candidates than he originally planned.

His challengers, Boston developer Kevin McCrea and city councilors Sam Yoon and Michael Flaherty, all took issue with the mayor’s absence and his record. Among other things, they all promised increased transparency, improved education, term limits and an elected school committee.

Many audience members said they were hoping to hear all the candidates. “The mayor was conspicuous in his absence,” said one man. “I think he doesn’t care about the little people,” a woman said.

The preliminary election is Tuesday.