Delaware Political Weekly: June 8-14, 2018
1. The Mulrooney Retirement. On virtually every issue, Rep. Mike Mulrooney has been a traditional Democrat, and not a Chamber lackey. He supports workers, families, equal rights for all, and has voted as such. He’s a salt-of-the-earth guy who took his job seriously while not taking himself too seriously. His legislative priorities generally centered around the rights of workers and the rights of unions to defend those workers. From that standpoint, he will be missed. Unfortunately, he is an NRA member, makes no bones about it, and simply opposes virtually every gun control measure. Even voted against the bump-stocks measure yesterday. Melissa Minor-Brown clearly would make a difference with gun control measures. Her priorities as outlined on her website are admirable. She has the potential to be a wonderful addition to the General Assembly. But Mulrooney was, for the most part, a real Democrat with a major blind spot with his unwavering NRA support. He was not a drone, say, like John Viola. By and large, he will be missed.
2. Townsend Files For Reelection. He is one of Delaware’s best legislators. I was concerned that he might decide to leave the Senate, especially in light of what the absence of Karen Peterson and Patti Blevins has meant for the consideration of progressive legislation. Help may be on the way, though. As much as I like Bob Marshall, Tizzy Lockman represents the potential for vibrant new leadership. Trey Paradee is likely at least a marginal upgrade over Brian Bushweller, especially on issues like minimum wage. And, should Laura Sturgeon take out Greg Lavelle, we’re talking a sea change. The Senate D’s opted for the over-the-hill-gang plus Dover’s most blatant self-dealer (Nicole Poore) as their leadership choices. That has to change. I think it will with Lockman and Sturgeon in the Senate.
3. The Emergence Of Kathleen Davies. Yes, she has a long way to go. But now that we know, thanks to Kevin Ohlandt, that her absence from the Auditor’s office was just a blatant attempt by Tom Wagner to stop her from investigating charter school financial abuses, she’s my newest hero(ine). She goes from ‘no chance’ to ‘she’s got a shot’. She’s even getting some endorsements. That’s real progress.
4. R Files In RD 7. Eric Braunstein, a realtor with Keller-Williams. He lives in Arden. Right down the street, in fact, from Ray Seigfried, who is one of the D candidates in a three-way primary. While I’ve met him, I’m more familiar with his significant other, Lisa Wolfe. Wolfe did superb work on ensuring the safety of nursing home residents during her time with AARP. Bryon Short is retiring from this increasingly-safe D district. Current registration figures: 8398 D; 4419 R; 4213 I. Along with Seigfried, Joe Daigle and Larry Lambert have filed to seek the D nomination.
5. Dee Durham Files To Challenge Bob Weiner For NCC Council Seat. She’s a superior candidate with a tremendous resume. She previously ran in a primary for the 4th SD seat, but lost to eventual winner Michael Katz. To me, the question is: Are people sick of perpetual gloryhound Bob Weiner, or not? I’ve been sick of him for 25 years. But I know him better than most.
6. Filings. Rep. PAL Longhurst (D-PAL & RD 15); Scott Dailey (R-Sussex County Recorder of Deeds).
That’s it for this week. What’d I miss and whaddayathink?
Minor-Brown was running while we thought Rooney was. She seems good but curious to see if any other names out there or Mulrooney making room for one of his folks?
Prediction: Dee Durham will defeat Bob Weiner this November. With Weiner’s recent vote to increase county taxes 15%, it will hurt him with base Republicans. and with so much momentum for Democratic women candidates this cycle, that district is very winnable. Weiner has hung around far too along, and has never been beloved up there..
Jack D: My take is that Mulrooney realized that he would really have to work to win. When you’ve been able to coast, that’s not an appealing prospect. I don’t know if anyone can now effectively challenge Minor-Brown. I only wish that someone equally motivated had mounted a similar challenge to John Viola. I think he would have retired as well.
Heard this rumor this morning, can someone check it out. Don’t know the number of the Senate but, rumor has it the bill will permit DPL to change their rates anytime they want? Sounds like a McDowell, or Marshall or both behind it.
First of all, this is in the wrong thread. Second, we’ve been writing about this bill for two months. They couldn’t change them any time they want, but they could change some w/o getting PSC approval. Here’s the bill:
http://legis.delaware.gov/BillDetail?legislationId=25781
Here’s what I wrote back on June 5:
“Speaking of Sen. McDowell, today’s House Agenda features his sop to the electric and natural gas utilities. The bill is now less onerous thanks to this substantive amendment. Nevertheless, this is a bill sought by the utilities to enable them to increase rates w/o PSC approval. In other words, special interest legislation. The bill is likely to pass, but I hope that, should it pass, Rep. Kowalko’s filed amendment is added to the bill.”
Hey, maybe if you read the post-game/pre-game threads, you might learn something.
Well, looks like the D’s have their candidate for State Treasurer:
https://www.colleendavisfortreasurer.com/
She filed today. Her bio is…incomplete so far.
I see nothing bad about Davis, but what experience does she have that qualifies her as a treasurer?
ANYBODY can be Treasurer. Just hire a couple of competent people to do the real work, such as it is.
You have to do less work as a Treasurer than you do as, say, State Auditor. Yet, the good ol’ boy portion of the Democratic Party is embracing someone completely unqualified to do that job.
Like El Som says, again.