Delaware Political Weekly: March 29-April 4, 2014

1. Christopher Gets a Sane Challenger For Sheriff.

The choice in the R primary will be clear: Do you want your sheriff to be sane or insane? It’s an R primary, so the outcome could be in doubt. But Robert T. Lee has credentials and a credible message. He doesn’t dance around the Christopher issue, he takes it on:

Sussex Countians have been faced with controversy the past several years over the definition of the sheriff role as “conservator of the Peace”. Court rulings and the current law signed by the Governor clarifying this role have yet to put this issue to rest.

“I believe that the Sheriff role, elected by the people, is to be a professional liaison between the sheriff’s office to the County Council, our courts, corrections, state and local police. Trusted cooperation between all existing agencies creates a department that runs in a smooth and efficient manner. I believe the citizens of Sussex County deserve that.”

Lee has an extensive law enforcement background, both as a police officer and as a detective with the AG’s office assigned to ‘interstate transport of Delaware fugitives’.

IMHO, he’s clearly qualified to be sheriff, which, in and of itself, is an upgrade.

2. R Kevin Hensley to Challenge Becky Walker in 9th RD.

One of our favorite commenters, who shall remain nameless, was giddy with excitement over Hensley’s filing. As we know, Walker is perhaps best-/worst-known for her intransigent unwillingness to even allow a floor vote on legislation doing away with the death penalty.  As chair of the House Judiciary Committee, she remains a determined roadblock.  She and Chris Coons likely share the same fan club.  Hensley is…yet another realtor taking the plunge into politics. I’m guessing the real estate market must be soft this year. Actually, probably not. Hensley was named ‘Realtor of the Year’ in 2011 by the New Castle County Board of Realtors. Of course, maybe that was an honor sent his way because he was President of the NCCBOR in 2007, maybe not. But, realtors have good name recognition as their signs register in people’s minds. Anyway, I think he’s a credible challenger with a real chance to win.

The 9th RD can be a swing district. 6438 D’s; 4911 R’s; and 3902 I’s.

Walker has not been an electoral powerhouse. She first achieved notice when she came close to defeating then-House Majority Leader Dick Cathcart in 2006, garnering 46.5% of the vote in the process. This immediately placed her at the top of the D priority pick-up list in 2008. However, party officials were so unhappy with her campaign that, when they had to decide where to place last-minute resources, they put them elsewhere. In a year when D’s swept into the majority in the State House of Representatives and Obama got elected, Walker got..46.2%, and lost to Cathcart again.

In 2010, she told her committee that she would not run. Richard Griffiths agreed to take on Cathcart. Then, Cathcart announced he was ‘retiring’, likely caused by his financial shenanigans at Delaware State. Walker had a change of heart, primaried Griffiths, won, and then edged R John Marino in the general election, garnering 51.3% of the vote. She ran unopposed in 2012.

This is just a long-winded way of saying that she hasn’t made the final sale (yes, a real estate reference) yet. Kevin Hensley is a contingency with which she’ll have to deal.

3. Filing(s)

Rep. Mike Ramone (R-21st RD) is the only other candidate to file this week.

What did I miss?