Dispute sinks plans for a debate in the 161st District
The League of Women Voters of Delaware County has cancelled the debate with the 161st state Legislative District candidates after the Republican candidate’s campaign said she would not appear.
Representatives for the Republican contender, Patti Rodgers Morrisette, of Ridley Township, said she has declined to participate after supporters of incumbent state Rep. Leanne Krueger-Braneky, D-161, of Swarthmore, told attendants at public events that Rodgers Morrisette was being paid to run for the seat.
“She’s not doing the debate,” Rodgers Morrisette campaign spokesman Pete Peterson said. “Patti’s been out at a few different events where her opponent has been. People have come up to Patti and essentially said her opponent was saying she was being paid to run for office.”
Peterson said Rodgers Morrisette took great offense at that.
“She’s very frustrated and upset,” he said, adding that she didn’t want to debate Krueger-Braneky due to the misinformation and the lies being disseminated.
In addition, Peterson alleged, “It’s illegal.”
While a lawsuit has been discussed, nothing has been filed yet.
Krueger-Braneky’s representatives said the debate would have been the ideal forum to address these concerns.
“If this is the accusation, why won’t Patti use the debate as an opportunity to confront Rep. KruegerBraneky directly in front of voters?,” Krueger-Braneky spokesman Joseph Corrigan asked. “Because it’s not true. If this rumor has been spread to so many people that Patti considers it damaging, why don’t they provide witnesses? They can’t.”
Corrigan continued, “Patti and the Delaware County Republican machine are fabricating claims from whole cloth to distract from the fact that Republicans have raised property taxes, emptied the cash out of our public schools, and helped destroy our environment. Under those circumstances, I wouldn’t want to debate, either.”
Corrigan said planning for the debate had been ongoing since June and that the Rodgers Morrisette campaign cancelled two planning sessions on the same day.
“Although I spent much of my career helping small businesses grow and create jobs, and running a successful non-profit, it doesn’t take that kind of background to know that if you don’t show up for a job interview, you shouldn’t get the job,” KruegerBraneky said. “So, unlike my current opponent — and her predecessor — I’ll be showing up, just like I do every day for the families of Delaware County.”
In the absence of a debate, the incumbent plans to host a telephone town hall at 7 p.m. on Oct. 23. The details will be announced after they are finalized.
“The most important issues of our time are being debated every day in Harrisburg: Education funding, health care, the environment, and fundamental human rights,” Krueger-Braneky said. “As an elected official, I believe it is of paramount importance to hold open, public discussions of the issues that directly affect Pennsylvanians in order to better advocate for constituents and be their voice in Harrisburg.
“Failure to hold open, public discussions sends the message that the taxpayers of the 161st District don’t deserve a voice in the state Capitol,” the representative said.
Attempts to reach representatives from the League of Women Voters were unsuccessful Tuesday.