On a night when nearly all the candidates met face-to-face, Mike Grayson and Cecil P. Williamson saved the best for last.

Grayson — when given a chance to directly ask the incumbent a question — charged Williamson with spending $500 to $900 in travel money every month during her term as mayor — asking how she justified spending that much money.

Williamson denied spending that much money for travel, then tried to one-up Grayson by publicly asking for his vote for mayor when she was allowed to ask her challenger a question.

Williamson’s line got a laugh — and a “No” from Grayson.

There were few surprises on the night — and only one candidate missed out on the evening, as District 1 challenger Dexter T. Jones was the only candidate who did not show up for the event.

Candidates for each council seat were given three minutes to speak, and then the mayoral candidates spoke for five minutes each before answering questions posed by a moderator — and then questioning one another.

Grayson also proposed another forum Wednesday night, Aug. 20 at 6 p.m. at the campus of Alabama Southern, to which Williamson tentatively agreed.