9th District Democratic Candidates Abound
Last night the 9th district Dems met with the potential candidates to run against John Marino to replace Dick Cathcart. Rick Griffiths is the endorsed candidate and has been ramping up his campaign for months. Yesterday, Rebecca Walker filed to primary Rick. Walker has faced off against Cathcart twice in the past and had yielded to Rick earlier in the year. But given Cathcart’s retirement she felt that she had to give it one more try.
On Monday, I expect Clerk of the Peace Ken Boulden to file to run. An experienced campaigner with a lot of charisma and a deep bench of past supporters, Boulden will be a formidable challenger. A fourth potential candidate decided that he would not run after hearing Boulden speak to the group and talk about how much money he expected to spend.
Middletown will be an interesting place this summer.
Comment by Unstable Isotope on 9 July 2010 at 8:25 am:
I can’t help feeling a bit resentful on Mr. Griffiths’s behalf. He was willing to take on Cathcart and Boulden wasn’t. It seems a bit unfair but politics is a game of opportunity and jumping on them when they come.
Comment by El Somnambulo on 9 July 2010 at 8:30 am:
Yeah, Boulden was the guy I dubbed as being more qualified to run for President of Toastmasters International.
He’d bring nothing to Dover but the potential to be Class Clown.
He’d have lots of competition for that role.
Comment by AQC on 9 July 2010 at 10:19 am:
I hope the party has enough decency to get behind Griffiths. He was willing to run when Cathcart was still in it and Walker already showed she doesn’t have the tenacity to stick with it!
Comment by Joanne Christian on 9 July 2010 at 10:28 am:
Neighbor to the 9th here speaking….so impacted, by the outcome. Walker who? Oh that girl again…Griffiths? Good luck w/ the entrenched. Boulden? Don’t be so dismissive–the guy is well liked AND recognized around here. He’s married quite a few folks.
Comment by El Somnambulo on 9 July 2010 at 10:55 am:
Not dismissive at all about his chances to win.
Less optimistic about his ability to bring anything more than amiability to Dover.
Comment by Joanne Christian on 9 July 2010 at 10:57 am:
But El–you KNOW it’s all about the winning:) !!!!!
Comment by Geezer on 9 July 2010 at 11:02 am:
“the guy is well liked AND recognized around here. He’s married quite a few folks.”
The residents of the 9th have every opportunity to get the representation they deserve. To be blunt, the area is full of new residents who decided to cash in on their real estate further north to buy low on converted farmland, lack of sewers (outside Middletown) and lack of construction quality (in Middletown) be damned. Let them stew in their own spray irrigation.
Comment by ronh on 9 July 2010 at 11:46 am:
I don’t know the district or the individuals…and I’ll probably get ripped by someone for this way of thinking…but isn’t some of this a function of the Dem Party endorsing candidates in advance (often well in advance) of the filing deadline…wouldn’t it make sense to know who is running before endorsements are voted upon
Comment by Rebecca on 9 July 2010 at 11:47 am:
Just wondering, why would Boulden want to give up a job that he claims he loves, and only has to run for every 4 years, to take up a job where he’s gotta run every 2 years? I haven’t googled the pay rate but surely it can’t be more money, switching from county-wide to district rep? Is Clerk of the Peace one of the endangered row offices? I guess I need to study this some more.
Comment by Ishmael on 9 July 2010 at 11:47 am:
can Boulden hold both offices simultaniosly?
County Jujstice of the Peace and State Rep?
Comment by Rebecca on 9 July 2010 at 11:55 am:
ronh,
Very good point that has been discussed a lot. But, if you wait to endorse until mid-July, after the filing deadline, it doesn’t leave much time to campaign — especially if there’s a Primary challenge in September. The current practice invariable leads to what we are seeing in the 9th. The best solution would be to hold our Primary in May, as most states do, but our General Assembly would have to legislate that change and they don’t want to be worried about a Primary while they are in session. In short, it’ll never happen.
On the other hand, down at the Rep level, he who gets out first and gets the District endorsement has an advantage over the fence-sitters who are waiting for the opportunistic moment that may or may not occur. Unless, of course, the fence-sitter has very deep pockets.
Hey, it’s politics and it’s not for sissies.
Comment by liberalgeek on 9 July 2010 at 12:03 pm:
Boulden cannot hold both offices at the same time. According to him, he wants to run because it is in his blood. His father was the Speaker when Ken Jr. was a kid. He also said that his intention was to run in 2 years for the seat, but Dick’s retirement pushed the decision up a bit.
Comment by liberalgeek on 9 July 2010 at 12:03 pm:
Oh, and comparatively, the pay sucks. He will take almost a 50% reduction in pay to become a rep.
Comment by Ishmael on 9 July 2010 at 12:10 pm:
thanks LG
Comment by Joanne Christian on 9 July 2010 at 12:15 pm:
Isn’t he in his mid to late fifties or so? I do remember his “good guy” rep of not marrying couples for a fee–only the cost of whatever the paperwork is–he either refuses, or contributes the gratuity to charity. Now, if that sticks in my mind as a know nothing (I didn’t even know he was a Dem) typical voter–I’d say you guys might have a winner.
Comment by liberalgeek on 9 July 2010 at 12:19 pm:
I think he is in his early 60’s… 62, I believe. Rick and Becky are in their 40’s, I think.
Comment by liberalgeek on 9 July 2010 at 2:22 pm:
Update: There is now another candidate in the 9th, thankfully on the Republican side. Anyone know Anthony Mirto?
Comment by Joanne Christian on 9 July 2010 at 2:32 pm:
Not me. Geek–are you the 8th or 9th? I know the boundary gets screwy up that way.
Comment by RSmitty on 9 July 2010 at 2:47 pm:
It ain’t the 9th, but it’s a good thread to toss it in. Speaking of primaries, the forever-candidate made his all-too-familiar seasonal primary official today, as well.
Comment by liberalgeek on 9 July 2010 at 7:25 pm:
This Just In – Ken Boulden will not run.
JC – I’m in the 9th.
Comment by Unstable Isotope on 9 July 2010 at 7:30 pm:
Really? Will that unnamed 4th candidate decide to run then?
Comment by liberalgeek on 9 July 2010 at 7:42 pm:
No, I think that guy is gone. He got a look at the price tag.
Comment by Joanne Christian on 9 July 2010 at 8:07 pm:
Oh geez–there you are smitty–what are you gonna do w/ all this time on your hands:) ??
Comment by arthur on 9 July 2010 at 9:36 pm:
those of you with short histories dont remember good ole ken boulden from the early 90’s. the do nothing to get anything sleaze. anybody remember his cable access and stand up comedy days. he is a perfect politico. do nothing to get something.
Comment by RSmitty on 9 July 2010 at 9:43 pm:
Oh geez–there you are smitty–what are you gonna do w/ all this time on your hands:) ??
Oh, I am busy, there is no doubt about it. I think you’ll catch wind of that soon.