Mayoral Debate Invitation Snubbed In Bensalem

BENSALEM TOWNSHIP, PA — Despite an offer in late September, a debate between longtime Republican Mayor Joseph DiGirolamo and his Democratic challenger Stephanie A. G. Ferrandez doesn't appear like it will take place before Tuesday's general election.

Ferrandez, a Bensalem Township school director, had her campaign manager send DiGirolamo a hand-delivered letter on the afternoon of Sept. 26 proposing a debate.

She was ready to discuss options on the location and the selection of a neutral moderator.

She never received a response from the mayor or the Republican Executive Committee.

“The community deserves to hear from both of us directly," Ferrandez said. "Bensalem is the largest township in Bucks County and faces unique challenges and opportunities. This office is about leadership and advanced planning to move Bensalem forward, while still retaining our small-town feel. That cannot be accomplished by reliving our glory days.”

The last mayoral debate was on Oct. 29, 2017, hosted and organized by Congregation Tifereth Israel in Bensalem.

That year, DiGirolamo — Bensalem's mayor for 32 years — and former Councilman Bryan Allen squared off to a standing-room only crowd. A few days later, DiGirolamo only won by a narrow margin of 287 votes. 6,614 to 6,327.

“We can both post pictures of ourselves enjoying a lemonade at the Fall Festival, arrange pictures with the cheerleaders, or take the stage at an event," Ferrandez said. "We can both make one-sided commercials and send out mailers. But a debate will show if we each have a comprehensive plan and are capable of tackling the business at hand for the next four years.”

Mayor DiGirolamo responded to Patch when asked about debating Ferrandez.

"We talked about it," the mayor said in regards to a discussion with his campaign team. "I've had debates at the local synagogue. But the president is running for election (Democrat Jesse Sloane for Bensalem Council) so I didn't feel it was right. I haven't said no. I'm leaving it up in the air."

With the election days away, that debate won't be happening, which disappoints the township's Democratic party.

“Being mayor for more than three decades does not excuse a candidate from standing up in front of the voters to be accountable for your record and tell them where you plan to take our township in the future," said Allen, chairman of the Bensalem Democratic Organization. "We are not a monarchy. Joe DiGirolamo decided to run for a ninth term, and he owes it to the voters to step out from behind his campaign war chest of money to have an open and honest forum with Ms. Ferrandez on the issues at hand."