A PROUD Glencolmcille man has appeared in a TV advert supporting his son’s bid for a seat in the United States Congress.
Brendan F. Boyle is already a Democratic member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.
As Donegal Daily reported last month, his father Frank is a native Irish speaker from Glencolmcille who left Ireland in 1970 aged 19.
And if there was ever an advert for the American dream, then his family’s story is it.
Son Brendan went on to win a scholarship in Notre Dame and is now the state representative from the 170th District, which covers parts of Northeast Philadelphia and Montgomery County.
He has represented the district since 2009 and has now announced his candidacy for the U.S. House of Representatives for Pennsylvania’s 13th congressional district.
His brother Kevin also serves Pennsylvania, following in his brother’s footsteps in 2010 – to become the first brothers to serve together in the state legislature.
Their father Frank works as a janitor on the state’s transport system – and goes out canvassing for his son in the evenings.
And he appears in this video TV advert above!
The primary elections are tomorrow, the first round battle where Brendan – who visits Donegal regularly – is taking on the power and wealth of the Clintons.
Wealthy Marjorie Margolies (71), is also running for the seat – she is Chelsea Clinton’s mother-in-law!
Brendan takes pride in his work ethic, and says he is the “only candidate, from beginning to end, that has talked about the fact that the middle class is forgotten by Washington, D.C., at a time when income inequality is at an all-time high.”
He said he isn’t fazed by the Clinton’s involvement with the Margolies campaign, including $1,000-a-head fundraisers with both Bill and Hillary.
“They’re in-laws and I certainly understand their involvement — the fact that both have done fundraisers certainly shows that they’ve made it a priority,” Boyle told ABC News at the weekend.
“Bill Clinton was a good president, but it’s not his name on the ballot. Voters need to ask who would be the best congressperson.”
Heading into Tuesday’s primary in the Democratic-leaning district, Boyle said he’s trying make do “with as little sleep as possible.”
“I was up at 5:30 shaking hands at the train station, then I did radio interviews. I’m campaigning at diners all afternoon, and attending school fundraisers tonight,” he said.
If he were to win, it would shake the political establishment sending a politician to Congress who doesn’t wield cheque books in his bid for power.
CLICK PLAY to see the advert above:
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