Delaware Political Weekly: April 1-7, 2016
I skipped last week’s edition b/c, other than Wilmington Council At-Large Loretta Walsh filing for reelection, nothing else happened.
This week is not last week.
1. Bryon Short Drops Out of Congressional Race.
The first question is, how does this impact the race? I, of course, don’t really know. However, it does free up Brandywine Hundred, Short’s home turf, for the other candidates. There are already state legislative primaries in both the 7th RD (Short’s district) and the 10th RD (where Sean Matthews once again faces Dennis Williams). Brandywine Hundred has traditionally had fairly high voter turnouts. In a close primary, the candidate who most effectively exploits this opportunity could find that it’s their margin of victory. The second question is, will Short seek his state rep seat? Again, I don’t know for sure, but, if I were one of the candidates who had announced and filed and who were already running, I don’t think I’d go gently into that good night and fold. I stick by my prediction: He ends up with a lucrative position in the Carney Administration. Chief Legislative Liaison seems about right. He’s an amiable message carrier.
2. Fallout From Latest Gordon Scandal.
That was a pretty weak non-denial denial, wasn’t it? The person who could shed light on it refuses, claiming that it is a confidential personnel matter. If nothing happened, if he never took those lists, then wouldn’t a simple ‘He did his job, he didn’t take the lists’ be justified? I also love the part about how the complainant was invited to come in, but didn’t. You live in Section 8 housing, you’re gonna head on up to Cop-land? Whole thing smells like a cover-up to me with ex-cops acting as the enforcers. Since Gordon is no stranger to ethical violations or even illegalities, and since everyone knows it, I don’t know whether it will impact him. But he clearly did a 180 on that tape when he found out who the alleged miscreant was. Will the primordial ooze flowing through county government flush him down into one of NCC’s sewers this time? It depends on whether his D opponent, Matthew Meyer, runs an effective and aggressive campaign. It’s also possible that if Barry Nahe, who has filed as an R for County Executive, turns out to be a non-ideological candidate running on the issues of transparency and competence, he could defeat the ethical black hole that is Gordon. Nahe has been Chief of Building Operations and Maintenance in NCC since 2008.
As to Bethany Hall Long, I think it could damage her campaign for Lieutenant Governor. Even if it turns out that Dana Long did nothing wrong, she could unfairly wind up as collateral damage. She barely got a mulligan on the first one (the sign-stealing), but people may start seeing this as a pattern, even if there’s no pattern. It also places John Carney in a bit of a predicament. He’s made no secret internally that he would prefer to run on a ticket with BHL. If he no longer prefers to, her candidacy takes a huge hit. Does Carney want to risk having Gordon sewage all over him? I don’t think so. BTW, let me go back to the sign-stealing thing for a moment. Long didn’t just steal signs, he was a serial sign-stealer. Dana Long got caught b/c his opponents’ signs had gotten stolen so much that they got frustrated and essentially set him up on camera. I fully understand that. My signs were selectively stolen when I ran against Wayne Smith, and I fantasized about catching the thieves in the act. So, Dana Long doesn’t get a pass from me. As of now, we don’t know if Long did anything wrong and/or if BHL knew about anything he might have done wrong. Don’t know if people are in the mood to give her the benefit of the doubt this time.
3. Maria Cabrera Is Running for Mayor…Or IS she?
I know, I know, she has said she’s running. But as an astute observer of city politics has pointed out to us, she would have to give up her At-Large Council seat to do so. When push comes to shove, will she follow through and file and lose her seat and the check? Until then, file this one under ‘wait and see’. Especially with only $400 raised for her campaign. Maybe she just wants to pull a ‘Dennis Williams’ and get some face time on a mayoral debate panel even though neither of them have filed. BTW, the article says she “runs a marketing firm and works in the health insurance industry.” Both at the same time?
4. Is This Gordon’s Stalking-Horse for NCC Council Prez?
David J. Roberts. 37 years in County Public Safety. 43 years with the Minquadale Volunteer Fire Department:
“Too often, New Castle County makes headlines for the wrong reasons,” Roberts said. “I hope to push out some of the negativity and provide some news we can be proud of.”
Only way to ‘push out the negativity’ is to eliminate the corruption in New Castle County government. Can our readers help flesh out what Roberts would bring to Council? Is he an independent voice, or yet another ‘public safety’ crony of Gordon’s?
5. Dirty Dealings in Delaware City?
If Dick Cathcart is involved, the default answer is yes. Seems like the town’s lawyer woke up the day before the election for three city council seats was to be held, and discovered that there was an error in the legal election notice that had gone out. Damn good lawyering there. So, it’s been rescheduled for May 5. On the same day that town residents are expected to vote on a referendum to help Cathcart and Val Longhurst’s dream of an ‘underwater park’ at Ft. DuPont become reality. Otherwise known as annexation. Nothing to see here folks. The game is rigged everywhere, now just move on.
6. Paulette Rappa Again Challenges Ruth Briggs King.
Briggs King is perhaps second to only Rich Collins when it comes to placing the interests of developers ahead of those of Sussex County residents. In this case, the 37th RD, which includes Georgetown and Long Neck. Rappa lost by a 2-1 margin last time, 4173-2214. It’s a daunting fight. 2-1 is tough to overcome But she’s a damn good candidate and I think deserves our support. And, yes, 2014 was a horrible year to run as a D in western Sussex. And maybe we’ll have a wave of new Latino voters in the Georgetown area to vote against Trump or Cruz. Hey, I even overlooked Carney’s presence in the linked picture. Maybe I’m capable of personal growth after all.
7. Rep. Lyndon Yearick Gets D Opponent.
You’ll remember that Yearick ran far to the right of longtime R State Rep. Donald Blakey in 2014 and handily defeated him in the primary. He then ran up a 2-1 victory over D Ted Yacucci last time. D David Henderson has filed to challenge Yearick this year. Let’s just check out this article in the Dover Post…
“As a retired Delaware State Police sergeant…”
Uh, never mind. That’s an automatic disqualifier in my book. Just what we bleeping need. Not.
8. Other Filing.
I mentioned all but Irwin Burton III, who has filed for Sussex County Council District 3 as an R. Kevin Burdette has already filed and will face Burton, Mark Schaeffer, Frank Shade, and who knows who else in a primary. I smell shenanigans. (Do shenanigans smell?) FWIW, all except Burdette are from Lewes, with Burdette hailing from Milton.
Deep cleansing breath.
That’s it for this week. What’d I miss, and whaddayathink?
Celia reports on her blog that the specter of Short returning to his state rep seat is haunting that race. Who knows. I think your first prediction makes a lot of sense.
I also agree that Bethany Hall Long has gone from prohibitive favorite to somewhat favored. She is lucky that this is going to be decided in the Dem primary (with nobody yet to announce on the R side), because Republicans have about had it with team BHL.
Great run down. Thanks!
Also – I strongly disagree with voters who put ‘Hotel California’ above ‘Who’s Next’.
So do I. I even picked ‘Who’s Next’ over ‘Born to Run’.
Buncha bleepin’ musical wimps. Which reminds me, almost time for YOUR fave…Best Tunes of March.
Roberts is no friend of Gordon. He was pushed out when Gordon took office and has no love for him. I met him through the fire company. He is a genuinely good guy. I am extremely happy to see him run for this. He is probably the only candidate on any ticket without skeletons or delusions of grandeur. I hope he wins.
Thanks for the feedback, 19703. I guess, then, that the question will be whether he can mount an effective campaign. Not usually easy for a first-timer.
I hope he can stick through the ugliness that is coming his way from Gordon’s new crony on council and Grimaldi’s girl. He’s got a thick skin, but it is tough for genuine people do wade through the BS long enough to get to the end. I think he can do it and he has a lot of support from the fire community, which is really everybody since volunteers are everywhere. I just hope Gordon is to occupied with his own problems to interfere.
Joe Daigle’s quote from that story is classy:
“I don’t know exactly what’s next for Bryon. He needs time to plan his next step on his own terms. He’s been a great state representative. Obviously I’d have some serious considerations to go through. I wouldn’t have made the decision to run,” Daigle said.
If Short continues to serve in state government, it will be because he is qualified and committed to public service.
“Dirty Dealings in Delaware City?”
It’s a shame the main person challenging this is a virulently racist Trump supporter.
Who’s Next IS the greatest album of all time. Long live (in memory) Keith Moon!
Who’s Next benefits from being what critics always say a double album should be — a single album. It gets my vote.
All of those albums are excellent except for Hotel California (I’m with the Dude on that one) and Bat Out of Hell, which has sold 43 million copies, almost all of them in New Jersey.
Heh. Heh-heh.
What is it about Meat Loaf, who is from Texas, that that made him so beloved in Joisey?
Well, he does look like Chris Christie’s degenerate uncle.
Of course IG Burton has family working for home builders in Sussex County, but then so does everyone else in Sussex County.
I’d make a comment about 6 degrees of whoever, but in Sussex County, it’s only 2 degrees.
Of course, that means almost anyone in SC can get a good deal on BMW.
@ES: Jim Steinman’s BOOH is either a blatant ripoff or incredible homage to the production and songwriting on “Born to Run.” Does that help?
By the way, which one’s Pink
Bethany Hall Long has a history of making bad decisions! Why doesn’t someone find out why she never graduated from University Of Delaware?
Now that shit’s just uncalled for. And untrue.
She’s a damn smart person with a very successful professional career.
PLUS serious academic credentials: Thomas Jefferson University, BSN; Medical University of South Carolina, MSN, George Mason University, PhD.
Don’t know if anyone else in the General Assembly has that in their background.
Gordon has to be done now. Whether its Meyer or someone else, he should be easy picking now
My understanding of the Council Prez race: Hollins is Gordon’s guy. Basically because he’s scared to not run as a team with him. Karen Hartley-Nagle’s campaign is a front for Grimaldi. He’ll use her to funnel some more his attacks on Gordon. Roberts seems to be independent, he left the County shortly after Gordon came to office. If he had been there for 37 years, he was there long before Gordon. We’ll see
That would puzzle me. Wasn’t Bullock Gordon’s guy? Didn’t Penrose effectively force Bullock out of the race? And I haven’t seen K H-N as Grimaldi’s person. Except in the sense that she is not a Gordon person.
I may be naive, but is it possible you’re playing us?
Elsom – It’s possible I am. Thats my view on the race, it will play itself out and we’ll see. Bullock was Gordon’s guy until this…
http://delawarepublic.org/post/funds-wilmington-stock-exchange-face-resistance-new-castle-co-council#stream/0
Its no secret Gordon courts the black vote, which fits with the Hollins alliance. I think KHN is mostly independent. She got into the race on her own but I’m fairly certain Grimaldi is behind the scenes somewhere.
Why doesn’t John Marino run for Lt. Gov? That would be fun!
Why doesn’t John Marino run for Lt. Gov? That would be fun! That way the real slim shady would stand up!
Grimaldi is most definitely running HARTLEY Nagle’s campaign. He designed the logo. Look at the similarity between her’s and Gordon’s. Also, he and Vince Dianna have been shopping her around. She has shown up to half the fundraisers in town with her big campaign button and Grimaldi’s talking points. Every time @ncco_politics puts something out, she parrots them. How is she ever taken seriously??
Hollins was freely telling people that he will run with Gordon because he didn’t want any hassle. Pretty sad. I always thought he was the anti-TG, but some people just want to be elected so bad that they will do anything.
Well, IF Vince D’Anna is ‘shopping her around’, that would be a disqualifier for me. He’s one of those political hacks that, if he supports someone, I’m automatically against them.
Don’t know that to be true, though.
And you still haven’t convincingly tied Grimaldi to her campaign. Having said that, the enemy of my enemy is sometimes my friend. Maybe that’s why Grimaldi is backing her, IF he’s backing her. At least she wouldn’t be a Gordon ally, and that might just be enough for me.
Vince D’Anna, though…
As to Penrose Hollins ‘freely telling people’ he would run with Gordon, well, he would HAVE to run on the same ballot as Gordon if both won primaries. You provided no context there. Will he vote with Gordon on council? That’s what I want to know, and you shed no light on that.
You’re carrying someone’s water, just not sure whose water it is. Roberts, perhaps?
Nope, just don’t want anyone associated with either Gordon, or Grimaldi. A purge of the system is in order there. Would love to see someone new.
On that note, I get why people wouldn’t want to run for county office over something flashier, but wouldn’t it be nice to get some younger blood in there? We have 30 somethings in Leg Hall. I wish some of that would spread to the counties.
Sorry, forgot to answer the first and second questions. KHN has attended party functions with Dianna, as well as the county budget address (on one of her facebook pages, I believe).
I believe he meant run with Gordon IN the primary, or associated with him at least. I don’t have any idea how he will vote on council. If someone could predict that, they would be a commodity. Even the ones who are “consistent” are still wild cards.
Karen Hartley Nagle is not qualified to hold the office — not in any legal sense, but in the sense that I’m not voting for someone just because she has nothing else to do. This woman publicly admits she got into public life to gain political power, which she wanted for use in her custody battle against her ex-husband.
Take that crap to reality TV, and leave Delaware alone.
BHL is toast. Rumor has it she should try to at least save her senate seat. Talk is there is so much dirt on her she needs to take her signs and go home. I am with Fuller at this point.
I’m sorry, you’re so full of shit that Port-A-Potty should name a model after you. (I didn’t make that up, Robert Christgau once said something similar about Tom Waits, he was wrong, I’m right.)
‘Rumor has it’? She’s got 2 1/2 years left on her current term. She’s not up for reelection.
I despise bullshit like this on the blog. It’s typical election year crap, but it’s embarrassing when it’s so obvious.
You’re ‘with Fuller at this point’? Well, that’s one. Who will make it two? Seriously, you’re just too amateurish to even float a phony rumor here. Go back to troll school.
Grimaldi is definitely not running KHN’s race. He pretty much just wants to help anyone Gordon is against. She is independently minded and was the first one to get onto that race.
Sorry, she is definitely not independently minded. KHN was attached to Grimaldi’s hip before he was fired, now her new shadow is Vince Dianna. That is not much independence.
She doesn’t know anything, about politics or anything else I can discern. Nice lady, but take up knitting.
Hollins has persistently been in the group of NCCo Councilpeople who routinely pushes back against the Gordon secrecy and unilateralism. He’s mainly been on the right side of the recent fights, so am not sure how a partnership with Gordon would work. They may end up on the same ballot, but I don’t know if Hollins would play the same role on Gordon’s campaign that Bullock did.
And while I don’t know this for certain, I doubt that Grimaldi has any official role on KHNs campaign. Gordon accused Grimaldi at one point of promoting KHN at the expense of Bullock and that is apparently one source of the tensions between them. And I think that KHN knows that Grimaldi is probably too toxic for a formal role on her campaign. Still, I don’t know with any certainty his role.
There is a difference in know someone is toxic and acting on it. That’s how Gordon got reelected for a third term. Some folks just want to be elected so bad they will associate with anyone they feel will help them accomplish this.
What a scam. I just voted for Greg Fuller in your current poll and nothing happened. How does Bethany Hall-Longs votes keep going up but Greg Fuller continues to have a 1 vote. Not possible. This a blatant attempt to make all that’s happened with Bethany Hall-Long this week blow over and make sure everyone still has confidence in a untrustworthy candidate. Have you noticed no one else’s votes have changed? Dirty!!!!
Man, you really have to get hold of yourself. Not everything is a conspiracy. Drink some warm milk, or do some yoga.
Can anyone account for Dana Log’s current whereabouts?
Some folks just want to be elected so bad they will associate with anyone they feel will help them accomplish this.
If this is all of the proof you got that Grimaldi is running KHN’s campaign, then you need to check the tin foil on your own head. If you are paying any attention to the news, Grimaldi is running a campaign all right, but it ain’t for KHN.
Cassandra, he is involved with KHN. Before he left, they were attached at the hip at every function and county meeting. He designed her logo and put together her campaign page (his buddy in NY actually). He’s reached out to people to support her, until they stopped taking his calls.
I agree that there are a lot of conspiracy theories in politics. 99% of them are not true. Let’s face it, anyone who’s worked in government knows that most of these guys can’t agree on the color of the sky, much less conspire for a grand purpose. When it comes to the county, however, this is not the case. The Gordon admin (I include Grimaldi) are constantly going the long way to achieve something. It’s not well planned, always poorly executed, and never very secret. It’s like they are trying to be House of Cards, but the head writer left years ago.
Well, I guess somebody has to keep pushing Tom Gordon’s stories and it looks like you’ve got this one.