A Mountainside councilman's awkward response to a debate question about diversity is drawing a rebuttal from his two opponents, including a woman who grew up in India.

Councilman Robert W. Messler and a second Republican, Councilwoman Rachel Pater, are facing Democrats Anjali Mehrotra and Ileana Montes for two seats on the Mountainside council.

All four were at a recent candidates' night when moderator Susan Ferris Rights asked, "What have you done to promote and encourage diversity and inclusion in your careers?"

Messler, who is white and holds an executive job, appeared to stumble over the question.

"I have, in my career -- I have promoted many people that are...that maybe didn't deserve it and help include them," Messler said, halting as some in the audience began laughing.

A video of the 70-minute debate shows Messler attempting to clarify what he said, after Mehrotra and Montes shared their personal stories.

"I meant to say that they might not have had a chance. I'm in a factory environment and I have people that have education -- maybe have no education, maybe have language barriers, maybe are minorities," Messler said.

"I've promoted them to management positions, gave them a chance, gave them a chance to have education, helped them out and their families, so what I said came across wrong," he concluded.

The Mountainside Borough Council, with Councilman Robert W. Messler standing on far left (Photo via the borough's website)

When the diversity question was posed to Mehrotra, right after Messler gave his first response, she drew laughter upon throwing up her hands and declaring, "Look at me!"

"I am a woman of color who grew up in India. I was not supposed to have a college education or a career. All my life, I had to fight against status quo to be here today. I am the picture of diversity, if you will give me that," she said.

"Inclusion, itself, is important. But to me, diversity is not just diversity of, you know, ethnic. It's gender. It's diversity of thought. It's diversity of ideas. And I think that is severely needed in our borough," said Mehrotra.

Mehrotra made a point of noting that the police department -- currently roiled by a sexual harassment lawsuit filed by five male officers and a female dispatcher over alleged misdeeds included repeated displays of a large dildo -- is all-white and lacks any female officers.

"I would like to see more diversity throughout our government and throughout borough hall," she said, to some applause in the audience.

Mountainside is home to 6,800 and close to 90 percent of residents are white.

The candidates' forum was held Oct. 9 at Borough Hall and organized by the League of Women Voters.

When asked to revisit Messler's diversity response on Wednesday, Mehrotra and Montes -- an attorney and former president of the Hispanic Bar Association -- issued a joint statement via their campaign spokesperson.

"This is just another example of the stagnant, status quo, applying an outdated approach to everything they do. This is why we need change in November," the two Democrats said.

Anjali Mehrotra, on left, with Ileana Montes, the two Democratic council candidates in Mountainside (Photo courtesy of their campaign)

Messler did not immediately respond to a request for comment. He is a 14-year member of the council.

While the statement from the Democrats targeted both Republicans, Pater handled the diversity question much differently than Messler at the debate.

"I think I've always been a very inclusive person, going back from when I first started my career in Washington D.C.," said Pater, who is white and responded to the question before Messler.

"I've worked with many different folks -- from attorneys to finance, to prominent policy makers, to government officials. I always welcome people. I'm a fair person, and I'm inclusive and I always have been, and I will remain that way gong forward," added Pater, a media specialist.

Montes, the last to field the question, began by stating, "I am also an example of diversity."

She referenced her prior job as director of the N.J. Division on Women, where she worked to promote the involvement of women in the workplace and in elective office.

"We are not at the place where we want to be, but we are continuing to fight to improve the placement of women," Montes said.

She also noted her ongoing work with the Hispanic Bar Association, in which she seeks to promote diversity in the judiciary.

"We believe, and I strongly believe, that different voices bring better solutions and diversity brings better outcomes," she said.

While the diversity question proved controversial, the debate moderator sought to steer clear of the police lawsuit -- it alleges misconduct in the police department dating to 1998 and including repeated displays of a large dildo nicknamed "Big Blue" -- by barring any questions about it.

"We've had a call from the attorney of the Borough of Mountainside, who has made it abundantly clear that there will be no questions relating to the current lawsuit that's pending in your town, as it concerns matters of personnel," the moderator said.

You can watch the full debate here.

Voters will decide the election Nov. 6.

Rob Jennings may be reached at rjennings@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @RobJenningsNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.