Polling Report – Chip Flowers

Filed in Delaware by on September 7, 2013

When we last asked this question in March, Flowers polled at 54% approval, 37% disapproval, and 9% no opinion.

This month, he slipped a bit to 52% approval, 44% disapproval and 4% neutral/don’t know.

Maybe a couple of fence sitters made a choice in view of Patriots Game-Gate (…I mean the Patriots? C’Mon.). Or maybe this is the least scientific polling operation in the history of polling?

About the Author ()

Jason330 is a deep cover double agent working for the GOP. Don't tell anybody.

Comments (63)

Trackback URL | Comments RSS Feed

  1. El Somnambulo says:

    Chip’s a Dallas fan. You know, the team the Patriots faced on the weekend in question.

    You can look it up.

    Wonder where he was that weekend…

  2. jason330 says:

    GOOD LORD! This is now a multi-level scandal. The cover up (of the fact that it was a Cowboys game) could well be the spilled milk that breaks the camel’s back.

  3. truthsayer says:

    This is too funny. Flowers addressed this at the PDD meeting and called out El for pretending to know him. Flowers apparently has never met El S and asked the PDDs who is he. El wasn’t there. He cracked a joke that Obama has the birthers and he has the gamers. Lol. I’m sure he has a gas tank on his car, does that mean he was with his deputy when she bought gas. El prove your lies against him. Im tired of your lies against him. He’s a good Dem and has done a great job. Maybe you should listen to him before you pretend to know him and his football preferences. Weren’t you fired from leghall for spreading lies?

  4. El Somnambulo says:

    Uh, no ‘truthsayer’. You do not tell the truth.

    Has Chip even spoken to whether he was at that game with Erika Benner or not?

    Astute readers will note that this is not a denial, just an attempt to change the subject.

    I can take it, it’s happened before.

    Can Chip? Was he at the game with Ms. Benner? What was his relationship w/ Ms. Benner, and did it have any impact with her (a) getting the job and/or (b) abusing her state credit card and/or (c) Flowers both ignoring her transgressions and urging the State to give her her Merit System job back?

    Chip?

    These are simple questions. Why won’t you answer them? If they are lies (and all I’ve done is ask questions based on what others have said), then please label them as such rather than have some lackey try to change the subject.

  5. Anon says:

    What evidence is there of him being in Boston that weekend? Maybe he was there for the food and gas charges too! I heard he was in Philly that weekend but is setting a trap for the rethugs by allowing the rumor to persist until the election. Benner dating Trey Paradee is a known fact at LegHall. Maybe Trey was at the game?

  6. El Somnambulo says:

    The Benner/Paradee relationship started later. First seen in public at a summer of 2012 fundraiser.

    And, yes, people have claimed that they saw Benner and Flowers together in Foxboro that weekend. Not enough info to confirm for sure, but since you asked…

    Paradee and Flowers were both seen in a shouting match on the steps leading to the governor’s office this June. Not ascribing any meaning to it, just reporting. Multiple reliable sources. All standing in the lobby while Flowers and Paradee hurled verbal barbs at each other a few steps up.

  7. truthsayer says:

    He said he wasn’t there at the meeting. He brought it up even though the PDDs were focused on the reforms he made as Treasurer. If he was there, he wouldn’t have brought it up. You would know this if you actually attended a meeting and stop pretending that you have some inside scoop. What’s his favorite meal? What’s his favorite college team? What sports did he play? Since you think you know him so well, prove it! His deputy was married when she was hired so are you implying that she slept her way to the job? Seems like a strong allegations you sexist pig. Show up to a Dem event and get some facts once in a while. When she left her husband,she dated Rep. Paradee. Why don’t you ask if her boyfriend went to the game with her or all the Paradee people (or people trying to blame the black man) hoping Flowers is falsely accused to keep him from the Governors chair.

  8. truthsayer says:

    Now I know you’re lying. Are you really trying to say Delawareans went to a Patriots game in Massachusetts out of the blue and saw Flowers and Benner. Dude, go to church and repent for your freaking lies. I was at the leghall day and paradee started yelling at flowers because flowers opposed his bill. The National Inquirer is not a source. If anon is correct and he was not even in Massachusetts (which I have heard from a very reliable source, i.e.,his girlfriend), I’m sure you and the Republicans will be exposed. I can’t wait El No Nothing.

  9. El Somnambulo says:

    Did he really say that he wasn’t with her? I asked that question, and you’re the only one to claim that he said it? Anyone at the meeting hear him say the same thing?

    I let people know on this site that I wouldn’t be at that meeting b/c we were going to Oregon to take our daughter back to school. He knew that, so he knew he could act snarky towards me with impunity.

    As to labeling me as ‘sexist’, I talked to both D and R staffers who could barely remember Ms. Benner’s time in the CG’s office. So, when numerous people say that they were an item, and she gets a $90K-plus political job, and is protected by Flowers even when her transgressions are made public, is it not unreasonable to ask these questions?

    As to me carrying the governor’s water or anybody else’s water re Flowers, just go back and read the stuff I wrote about Colin Bonini in 2010. Nobody from Flowers’ campaign was accusing me of anything when I pointed out that Bonini basically stole money from the state by getting paid for Sunset Committee meetings he didn’t attend, and claimed a Masters of Public Administration degree that he did not have. That stuff was all true, and required research. Pretty sure the Flowers people were glad that I did it. And, no, they didn’t lead me to this stuff.

    Keep hurling the bleep, I’ll keep asking the questions and answering them as best I can.

    No matter where the chip(s) fall.

  10. El Somnambulo says:

    Truthsayer, people in his bleeping office knew/know.

    Keep spreading the fertilizer.

  11. truthsayer says:

    You don’t know crap El. You are a piece of crap. It hurts that everyone knows your were fired at leghall and you probably hate Bennersince she worked there. Why else would you bring up her salary. I heard you two didn’t get along. So, we all know you are no flowers fan and you are the only one spreading this garbage. Show us the proof!!!! Prove it!!!! You can’t because he wasn’t there. You are hoping to get someone to believe you. Was Obama born in Africa? I guess you will claim that you were there as well. Congrats to El, the leader of the sexists and gamers movement!

  12. truthsayer says:

    Relax El, I’m sure the flowers team is shaking just like you predicted Crane would beat Stewart easily. I’m sure the Delawareans that saw them took photos, show us you liar!

  13. Anon says:

    Benner had the same position Ann Visalli had (a grade 21 position) prior to becoming deputy treasurer. Benner was eminently qualified. To imply she was a Barbie Doll is highly troubling.

    How many people from Delaware attend Patriots home games? It is hard to believe droves of Delawareans were there and several of them saw Benner in the massive crowd.

  14. truthsayer says:

    Good point anon. Still waiting on those photos El. I guess I should call her boyfriend Rep. Paradee and ask him why you are working so hard to blame flowers not him. That’s some shady stuff.

  15. El Somnambulo says:

    Yeah, said she was a Barbie Doll.

    BTW, you’re truly fucked up. I don’t even remember Erika Benner. I had/have no ill will toward her whatsoever. To say that you heard we didn’t get along is as big a lie as saying I got fired for lying.

    Here’s a question for you Truthsayer:

    Were Benner and Flowers an item during the 2010 campaign and/or after she was hired to work in the Treasurer’s office?

    Yes, no, or don’t know will do.

  16. Geezer says:

    Let’s see: Race card played? Check. Charge of sexism? Check. Ad hominem attack on someone expressing skepticism about yet another Flowers bullshit story (to go with the one about him not smashing that woman’s cell phone)? Check.

    So what we have here is another of the Chipmunks (and I think you can guess which one) trying to prop up their hero, who once again has cowflop all over his nice, expensive shoes.

    Chip Flowers won’t see the inside of the governor’s mansion without an invitation — and given what an asshole he is about insulting everyone else when he gets himself in trouble, I wouldn’t stay up late waiting for one.

  17. truthsayer says:

    I do not believe they ever dated, just were friends. I think it is very very rude to assume people who work together, sleep together. It degrades women and such accusations are sexist. That’s like accusing Ann Visalli and Jack Markell of an intimate relationship since Ann was his deputy and is now OMB Director. Are you saying she slept with our married Governor to get that job? Benner was dating Rep. Paradee ) their photo at the Governors Ball was is in the newspaper. Flowers was dating an attorney and I believe might be engaged or not. If you had gone to any event, you would see him with his girlfriend. She doesn’t seem to me as the type who shares. Lol! Question asked and question answered.

  18. truthsayer says:

    Oh, Geezer. How I’ve missed you in this debate. I guess the black man cant have nice shoes. Check and mate. Which chippette am I? Sexist undertone. Check and mate. Assuming Flowers only gets to the Governors mansion with an invitation. Hmm, what you really wanted to say was he would be serving the food with his nice shoes. Guess you saw the movie The Butler with Paula Deen and it brought back fond memories of the glory years. I think your comment speaks for itself.

  19. El Somnambulo says:

    That’s what you believe, Truthteller?

    So, you don’t know, and you don’t know that those who claim that they were an item were lying.

    As to Jack Markell and Ann Visalli, everyone knew and respected Ann Visalli for YEARS before she was hired as Budget Director. I, for one, took her appointment as a sign that the Governor was hiring the absolute best people he could.

    Contrast that with Flowers hiring someone who was not even well-known in Leg Hall, where she worked, for a $90-plus K job, and someone who several others have said that she was an item with Chip, and you will see two distinct circumstances.

    Couple that with Chip’s written insistence that Benner be restored to her Merit System job despite the firing offense of abusing one’s state credit card privileges, and, if you’re not asking questions, it means that you don’t want to know the answers.

    I do. From Chip Flowers. You have now admitted that you don’t know whether there was an intimate relationship between the two or not. Based on what happened in this matter, I believe that it is a relevant matter. Both to determine whether Flowers attempted to cover something up, and to determine whether his judgment can be trusted.

    You will forgive me if I don’t take your word for it.

  20. El Somnambulo says:

    One more thing. I never assumed, nor would ever assume, that male and female co-workers must be dating. Nor that it would normally be any of my business. Talk about your false memes.

    I only asked b/c several people, and I mean SEVERAL, said that they were. And a $90-K salary and unauthorized credit card expenses make it the taxpayers’ business.

    Chip can answer this question for once and for all.

  21. truthsayer says:

    Wow, El, you really hate Benner and seem to be jealous. Waiting on the photos or has Paradee paid you to focus on Flowers. Its funny, you seem to dodge the fact that her boyfriend probably went to the game went her, but want us to believe that Benner slept her way to the top and left her boyfriend at home. Nice try. Paradee was at the game and you know it.

  22. Anon says:

    Let’s take a step back. Benner’s position prior to becoming deputy treasurer was Senior Legislative Analyst. Visalli’s position prior to becoming Markell’s deputy treasurer was Senior Legislative Analyst in the same office. Visalli was qualified and Benner was since she held precisely the same position in the same office. Are we to penalize Benner because she is attractive? She had a grade 21 position before becoming deputy treasurer. She was a high ranking employee in her mid-30’s before she worked for Flowers. What in her resume suggests a lack of qualifications?

  23. truthsayer says:

    Gotta go watch some college football right now (El maybe I’m at Foxboro with Benner and Paradee). I just saw some Delawareans! Jk. This was too fun debunking your lies. I hope anon can carry the torch.

  24. Geezer says:

    Ain’t seen no butlers in Zegna suits lately.

    And what’s sexist about pointing out that a man can be just as vain a clothes horse as Debbie Capano?

    Your man is a buffoon. I don’t know what you call someone like you, with her nose so far up the man’s ass that if she sneezes she’s going to bruise his kidney. If you have a title, let us know what it is.

  25. Geezer says:

    “What in her resume suggests a lack of qualifications?”

    You mean, outside of repeatedly using her state credit card as a handy loan card?

    By the way, what in Chip’s resume suggests he would run an office without internal discipline? And yet here we are.

  26. AQC says:

    Truthsayer, do you assume anyone who thinks Chip Flowers should be voted out of this office and not into any other office is a racist. If anyone thinks his assistant proved her incompetence/lack of ethics by her actions are they sexist?

  27. Trey Paradee says:

    This morning I received several texts from friends about this thread. Some of the posts are so absurd and so devoid of facts that it’s disgusting.
    Let me make a couple things very clear. I first asked Ms. Benner out on a date in April of 2012. Both of us were unmarried at the time. According to the story in the News Journal, the football game was in October of 2011. I would not attend a Cowboys-Patriots game if someone paid me. I won’t let someone wearing a Cowboys jersey in my home, and I still have not gotten over the Eagles Superbowl loss to the Patriots.
    I have never set foot in a Red Roof Inn at any point in my life. I am currently paying a mortgage on my home in Dover, as well as my office building in Dover. As I have disclosed on my personal financial report, I am a 10% owner in Eagle Hospitality LLC, which owns the Mainstay Suites Hotel in Dover. My point here is that I have absolutely no reason to stay at a hotel in Dover when I have three other places where I can go that I am currently paying for.
    El Som, your depiction of the exchange between Chip and I in Leg Hall is far from accurate. First of all, you don’t even have the location correct. The exchange took place in the lobby in front of the Majority Caucus Room. There are at least a dozen witnesses who can attest that at NO point did I raise my voice or my fists or use any foul language. The other party in the exchange cannot say the same. Well, I guess he could say it – it just wouldn’t be true. The taxpayers expect their elected officials to conduct themselves in a manner that is respectful of their offices, and that is exactly how I conducted myself that day. What I observed that day was truly surreal.
    For the sake of restoring the integrity of the office and the faith of the people, I feel it is necessary to conduct a full investigation of the spending in the Treasurer’s Office, including the credit card accounts and reimbursement requests of Chip, Deputy Benner, and anyone else who serves in that office. If I was Chip and I had done nothing wrong and wanted to stop this absurd rumor mill, I would immediately release these records to the press and the public. Further, Chip needs to answer some questions and go on record. I am calling on Chip (I’m sure “Truthsayer” can pass this along for me) to go on record and publicly state whether he was at the Patriots-Cowboys game or not. Let’s just get this rumor cleared up so I don’t have to see my name attached to it anymore.
    If I am to believe everything that I have read in News Journal, then it appears that Deputy Benner has made some terrible mistakes, but it sickens me to hear you people disparage her reputation and her diminish her qualifications. Erika is a remarkably intelligent person who possesses a great understanding of business, finance, economics, and the State budget. She has a tremendous work ethic. She got her job because she is qualified and worked her way up to get it – not because she is beautiful (which she is) and not because she slept with someone. She is a single mother who is raising two exceptional young men. She does not deserve to have her personal reputation and professional qualifications denigrated by people who sling around rumors while hiding behind ficticious names.
    From now on, why don’t you people just leave my name out of it because I have absolutely nothing to do with any of this nonsense.
    Yours truly,
    Trey Paradee

  28. Geezer says:

    “Erika is a remarkably intelligent person who possesses a great understanding of business, finance, economics, and the State budget.”

    Even less excuse for it then.

  29. Nuttingham says:

    Geezer – that’s a bit cold. Addiction doesn’t care about your résumé when it hits.

  30. Good points, Trey. I was told that the argument was on the steps, but you would remember where it took place. I pointed out that the relationship began later. and made clear that you were not married, and that was that.

    Seems like there’s been some attempt to blur the dates. The game was on Oct. 16, 2011. Here’s the verification:

    http://scores.espn.go.com/nfl/recap?gameId=311016017

    As to who was screaming, you’re right. I should have specified that it was reported that it was Chip who did the screaming.

    Couldn’t agree more with the rest.

  31. Truthsayer, contacting the ‘Flowers team’ has nothing to do with the truth. Why am I not surprised that this is your source?

    Chip can clear all this up. You can’t. Chip, Chip?

  32. puck says:

    When you unleash the politics of personal destruction there is no telling who will get sucked in. And it looks like it all traces back to the Governor’s people and their efforts to surround Flowers with a cloud of stink in order to protect their franchise. Something about the Governor’s smear campaign just compels people to take sides and jump into the mud. It would have been better to just have an honest public debate about Chip’s financial proposals, none of which were addressed on their merits.

  33. Truthsayer, you can believe what you want to believe. And you can call me names all you want, but you can’t throw unsubstantiated crap about Paradee up like you did in your moderated comments.

    Stay on the topic, which is about Chip Flowers, or face further action.

    You have been warned.

  34. RunCV79 says:

    Not sure if TNJ reporters read DL or not, but the fact that a sitting State Representative is calling for a “full investigation” in an effort to “restore integrity” to the Treasurer’s Office is big time news. WOW!

    All of us regular readers of DL have suffered through scores of posts by Chips minions who seemingly think they’re doing him a favor by responding on his behalf, and all they manage to do is dig the hole even deeper. Truthsayer – we aren’t interested in hearing from you anymore, nor are we interested in hearing you parrot lies and conspiracy theories.

    I applaud El Som for asking the direct questions of “The People’s Treasurer”. You would think he’d be screaming from the rooftops that he wasn’t at the game and debunking Rep Paradee’s assertions that “integrity” has taken leave from his office, too. And Rep Paradee should be applauded, too, for his candor and the immediacy in which he responded to lies by the ignorant posters.

    Where is Cris Barrish or Jon Starkey and why aren’t they asking the tough questions of the Treasurer? No more drafted statements. No more speaking through others. I’m talking direct, face-to-face questions and answers from a constitutional officer of our State.

    To date, his silence has been deafening. Accountability, transparency, and honestly should win the day here. And clearly this story is far from over.

  35. Jason330 says:

    Which came first, the cloud of stink around Flowers or the reporting on it? You have to be a partisan to have an opinion on that question.

    Also – I like the hard line on the Cowboys.

  36. ‘Truthsayer’: You can’t throw stuff about Paradee like that. You were warned.

    You’re in timeout.

  37. puck says:

    Which came first, the cloud of stink around Flowers or the reporting on it?

    Calling it “reporting” gives too much credit to the stenographic NJ articles by which the Governor’s team transmits its smears.

    Also, DL and WDEL teamed up in the mud with the Governor to successfully implant the “Chip is coming for your pension” smears. I didn’t see that “fact” moderated away or corrected. The correction was an exercise left for your readers.

  38. I have to laugh at this we are in cahoots with the governor stuff.

    Seriously, Puck, go back to the beginning of this year and read what I’ve written about the governor. Or go back to last year. Any belief that I’m carrying the governor’s water is faith-based belief at its worst. I’m not.

    I see the questions I’ve asked as legit questions, and view attempts to deflect the questions I’ve asked over and over again as diversions.

    Why won’t he simply answer the questions?

  39. cassandra m says:

    It would have been better to just have an honest public debate about Chip’s financial proposals, none of which were addressed on their merits.

    We’ve certainly had a public debate on those proposals (and the process) here. A man who posits the unique (politely) economic theory that raising taxes would somehow prod the so-called “job creators” to make more jobs can be forgiven for missing that. As he has missed so much else.

  40. puck says:

    Your questions are just another Whitewater inquiry. Chip is right to ignore them. What is the point of trying to gin up a scandal about dating relationships and who went to a football game? Never mind, the point is obvious.
    I’ve never thought you were “in cahoots” with the governor, but the ease with which his bullshit penetrated your normal critical thinking reveals a predisposition to believe and repeat anything bad about Flowers.

  41. puck says:

    We’ve certainly had a public debate on those proposals (and the process) here.

    It is becoming less public with the advent of Ayotte-style moderation.

    The big score for the Governor was tainting the voter pool on pensions via the News Journal and WDEL. But I think it will backfire, especially if Chip is primaried by an obvious Markell/Wilmington Trust machine candidate. Chip wins that easy in a low-turnout primary.

  42. I call BS, Puck. I broke the stories about Bonini’s pathetic attendance record for meetings for which he was remunerated. I wrote the story about the phony Masters degree that Bonini claimed to have. I had nothing against Chip, really, I didn’t.

    I’m not always right (well, that’s obvious), and you may consider me misguided. But, I believe that the public needs answers to these questions. Chip is a public official. If he can’t or won’t explain why he gave this person a $90-K job and demanded that she get her Merit System job back despite her misuse of her state credit card, then I consider that refusal to be a big deal. It’s not about ‘dating relationships’, another phony meme. It’s about whether an elected public official gave a plum post to the person he was dating, and whether he helped to cover up, or at least to cast a blind eye, towards her illegal activities. Activities that he should have known about. After all, he WAS her direct supervisor.

    I know it’s inconvenient when I raise questions about certain sacred cows. But my (un)healthy skepticism has pretty much been a lifelong condition for me. Believe me, it has virtually never redounded to my advantage, but I can’t change now. It’s pretty much why so few in elective office like me.

    But it’s also pretty much why I blog.

  43. cassandra_m says:

    It is becoming less public with the advent of Ayotte-style moderation.

    This isn’t a good deflection from the fact that you wouldn’t recognize a fact-based economic argument even if it hit you in the face. You were a part of those conversations (a mostly wrong part) but you certainly were not moderated in any of them. Whining isn’t a good argument.

  44. Nuttingham says:

    Maye the Governor is a Packers fan and this is all really a plan to disparage the Cowboys and Patriots.

  45. puck says:

    Cassandra, you are wildly off topic. As a wise man once said,

    Stay on the topic, which is about Chip Flowers, or face further action.

    You have been warned.

  46. cassandra_m says:

    And since the wise man in question knows better, it isn’t too tough to see that you still can’t manage to deal with the issues right in front of you.

    And can I say that it is abit rich for you — someone who routinely breaks one of our big rules — to try to invoke them here. Or perhaps you didn’t think I knew that.

  47. For the record, ‘Truthsayer’ was placed in moderation for throwing out some downright bizarre accusations about Trey Paradee. Weird stuff coming from one of the Chipmonks. Scorched earth tactics like that will endear Chip to nobody.

    And, Truthsayer openly says that he/she got the info from Flowers people. Not to be confused with Flower People.

  48. Geezer says:

    So let’s see if I have Puck straight — Markell is out to get Flowers, so Flowers must be right.

    Sounds pretty stupid when it’s laid out plain, doesn’t it, Puck?

  49. Sad that this blog continues to humor the KWS lunatic troll and relishes the pure evil existing on this thread,

  50. SussexWatcher says:

    “Addiction doesn’t care about your résumé when it hits.”

    What addiction? I don’t recall anyone blaming any addiction issue publicly – just an undisclosed medical situation. Until proof is presented, that’s bullshit.

    Geezer’s point is spot-on. You can’t claim she’s an excellent and brilliant financial expert when she repeatedly mistook a credit card that says STATE OF DELAWARE across the front for her personal card, and then wouldn’t pay the money back until she was forced to do so.

  51. Jason330 says:

    “…an obvious Markell/Wilmington Trust machine candidate…”

    A what?

  52. NC says:

    So, what I am hearing is that Mr. Flowers and Ms. Benner were an item? Was this before or after her divorce?

    What do they say about dipping your pen in company ink? It’s an extreme no-no, and as we all can see will come back to get you.

    This story is the worse and so is he. This is not what he was elected for.

  53. State Treasurer Chip Flowers says:

    All –

    I was informed earlier today by my staff about the significant amount of false information being spread on this blog regarding myself and my former Deputy. Since this remains the subject of an ongoing internal investigation by our office, this will be my only statement regarding this matter. First, my relationship with my former Deputy has been and will continue to be professional and as a friendly colleague. As a supervisor, my job is not to get involved in her personal life and I am in a very serious relationship with someone who recently moved to Delaware so we can take the next steps in our relationship. From the perspective of the Treasury, we are in the midst of a very serious investigation relating to the state credit card process and no public statements will be issued until all the facts are ascertained. We are not going to respond to lies and falsehoods about Ms. Benner’s personal life, her former relationship with Rep. Trey Paradee or any other matter that is outside the scope of our office.

    Second, with respect to the football game, Ms. Benner has stated publicly that she went to the game with a family member. It is my understanding that she has chosen not to disclose the name of the family member, because the individual did not know that she purchased the tickets with her state card and she does not want that individual to have any repercussions at their place of employment. The family member involved in this matter is not relevant to our investigation, since she has accepted full responsibility for this matter and the monies have been repaid. Any claims relating to me regarding the game or anything else are just false and lies.

    Third, I am very upset to learn that certain individuals have falsely asserted that Ms. Benner received her employment at our office for purposes other than her abilities and skills. I believe such post are very degrading to female executives and quite frankly are very inappropriate. From the outset of this process, Ms. Benner has been upfront, cooperative and helpful in our investigation and I believe the report will answer all questions regarding this matter. She helped the state achieve over $30 million in market value in our portfolio during her tenure. Any statements to the contrary are just plain false.

    Finally, with respect to the statements by her ex-boyfriend Rep. Trey Paradee on this blog regarding our interaction, he is aware of his unsolicited and unprovoked statements made toward me and my team relating to his proposed bill and I responded accordingly. Quite frankly, it was very inappropriate for him to try to work a bill relating to our office when the individual assigned to the bill was his girlfriend (or ex-girlfriend). We have taken steps in our office to ensure that practice involving a lawmaker will never happen again. As stated earlier, we are already conducting an internal investigation involving multiple state agencies and while Rep. Paradee may have some issues relating to Ms. Benner ending their relationship, we are not going to direct state resources to achieve personal actions against former individuals involved a relationship. Rep. Paradee should be grateful for our professionalism since a majority of Ms. Benner’s credit card transactions occurred while the two were dating (using the date he referenced in this blog). In our work, we do not assume and we base our decisions upon facts and evidence, not gossip. Our Treasury remains focused on our economy and please know that I do not personally know El Som. or any of the individuals on this blog claiming that they have the inside knowledge of me or my team. If they had such knowledge, the correct information that I just shared with you would have been in the blog.

    Again, thank you for this opportunity to respond to these false statements and I hope that this website can return to the discussing the important policies facing the First State.

    Yours Truly,

    State Treasurer Chip Flowers

  54. jason330 says:

    Thank you Chip. I’ve reposted this above.

  55. Black Cobain says:

    Chip = 1pt

    Everyone else = 0pts

  56. me on web says:

    all seems to be who shot John but no one owning up to what is going on seems like alot of insider speaking

  57. The voice of kent county says:

    I can honestly say, that Trey is not trustworty or honest when it comes to anything. This is a man who promised the stonewall democrats that he would work diligently for marriage equality in this state,he took there money and then voted against them. Not, to mention, here was a man who had a friendly relatiuionship with Representative Lincoln Willis, and in the end he betrayed him, by using information that Lincoln Willis gave to him, on personal confidential friendly basis. Trey is a fraud, and he should have never been allowed to even get near a representatives seat. Trey now pals around with Senator Lawson, and John Atkins, who are both tea parting 9’12ers. Trey’s selfishness and sense of entitlement is what has driven him, not liberalism, not concern for the the people, if the democratic party was smart they would primary him, Good riddance is how I would feel. If he’ll backstab a long standing close associate like lincoln willis and his family, then he’ll backstab all of us.

  58. jason330 says:

    The marriage vote sucked, and being friends with J0hn Atkins reveals a low character – but I happen to love the way he ran at Willis.

    Full disclosure: Willis Ford in Smyrna is awesome.

  59. Mitch Crane says:

    Though Representative Paradee’s vote against Marriage Equality was a disappointment, I can state with absolute certainty that he did not “promise the stonewall democrats that he would work diligently for marriage equality”. He did not seek the endorsement of the Barbara Gittings Delaware Stonewall Democrats. He did not receive an endorsement and he received no money from the Delaware Stonewall PAC.

  60. jason330 says:

    Yeah. That comment sounded pretty bullshitty to me.

  61. Lector says:

    I don’t know whether Secretary Flowers had an intimate relationship with Ms. Benner that clouded his judgment and made him overlook her patent abuse of a state-issued credit card. I have no personal knowledge about any intimate relationship between Secretary Flowers and Ms. Benner that clouded his judgment and made him overlook her patent abuse of a state-issued credit card. But if, like Secretary Flowers, I had been accused of having an intimate relationship with Ms. Benner that clouded my judgment and made me overlook her patent abuse of a state-issued credit card, I would immediately release ALL of my personal records that demonstrate that I did not have an intimate relationship with Ms. Benner that CLOUDED my judgment and made me overlook her patent abuse of a state-issued credit card. So don’t you have to ask yourself, “Why hasn’t Secretary Flowers released ALL of his personal records that reflect that he did not have an intimate relationship with Ms. Benner that CLOUDED his judgment and made him overlook her patent abuse of a state-issued credit card?” I’m sure that it couldn’t be that he has anything to hide that would prevent him from releasing ALL of his personal records that reflect that he did not have an intimate relationship with Ms. Benner that CLOUDED his judgment and made him overlook her patent abuse of a state-issued credit card.

    I’m just asking questions. Thank you, Glenn Beck.

  62. Nuttingham says:

    Wow. That was probably the first search-engine-optimized comment in the history of DL. If you were going to go through that trouble, why choose “clouded judgement” as your phrase, though?

  63. limousine liberal says:

    Speaking about the charges for Patriots tickets and the car service, Benner said that she did not have her personal card and it was a “last-minute” decision to go to the game. She purchased the tickets 11 days before the game.

    Word is that Ms. Benner’s limo is headed right back to her old $80,000 merit job in another section of state government.