Challenger Rooney Still Wants a Debate, Brings a Chicken

Ardsley resident and Republican candidate for the 13th Congressional District Joe Rooney arrived outside Congresswoman Allyson Schwartz’s northeast Philadelphia office just before noon yesterday. As he placed campaign signs on the sidewalk, he jogged up the street to meet someone else in his campaign.

A woman wearing a yellow chicken suit.

Rooney had been to Schwartz’s Frankford Avenue office before. Last week he held a press conference in front of the office; he said he had been attempting to set up a debate with the incumbent since July.

It wasn’t happening though, Rooney said. According to Rooney, he met with Schwartz’s campaign manger during the July 4 parade in Norristown. Rooney said Schwartz’s camp could pick the venue and the moderator, but no one got back to Rooney.

“Since the summer I’ve been issuing press releases challenging her to come before the people to get to look at the issues,” Rooney said. “She’s completely ignoring the campaign.”

Rooney had harsh words for the incumbent.

“I don’t think she represents the people,” Rooney said. “She’s more like an elected princess. This isn’t a public servant, it’s a ruler.”

And Rooney had a chicken.

Rooney stood on the side of Frankford Avenue holding a large campaign sign; next to him was his daughter, dressed in a yellow chicken suit. The chicken’s sign read “Schwartz is a chicken.” The pair garnered a few honks. 

During his press conference yesterday in front of Schwartz’s office, Rooney attacked Schwartz’s record and called her “scared” and “too chicken” for not debating him. 

See what Rooney said in the video section above.

Schwartz was not at the Frankford Avenue office yesterday at noon. In response, Schwartz’s chief of staff Rachel Magnuson said the Representative is “actively working on behalf of her constituents and will continue to do so.”

When asked if there is a possibility that Schwartz and Rooney could debate, Magnuson said, “There will be several public forums in the future in which voters can hear both candidates’ viewpoints.” 

When pressed, she repeated the same line.