While the first of the Presidential debates played out over national television on Monday night, candidates for a variety of offices in the local area are quietly going about their business, putting up campaign signs, showing up in advertisements and, in the case of city council hopefuls, preparing for a debate of their own. Contested races on the local ballot for Nov. 8 include challenger Nicholas Caton, a Realtor/farmer, who is seeking to replace incumbent Amy Bavaro in Trustee Area 3 (Van Allen) on the Escalon Unified School District Board. Incumbent Martha Coelho, Dent Rural Area 4, is also running for re-election but has no challenger and so does not appear on the ballot.