Delaware’s 10 Most Intriguing Primaries of 2012: The Top 5
Counting down from #5:
5. McDowell in Three-Way Primary in SD 1.
This one is fascinating in so many ways. Long-time incumbent Sen. Harris B. McDowell, III; former long-time State Rep. David Brady; and city resident James Martin have all filed. I consider McDowell the slight favorite, but he’s extremely vulnerable. First, the district itself. It’s a lot different from the district that McDowell has generally run in. The district now extends from NW Wilmington all the way up through Claymont to the Delaware state line. Unless I’ve miscounted, only 10 of 23 election districts in the Senate district are in the city. You can click here, then click on SD 1 (PDF file) to see the new map. There are currently 17,882 Democrats registered in the 1st. While my math skills are admittedly not the best, my rudimentary calculations reveal 6880 of those voters are in the city and 11,002 are from outside the city. Add to that a third primary candidate who lives in the city in James Martin, and you can see why the incumbent senator is anything but secure. Here’s another factor: Neither McDowell nor Brady have ever had what one could call electoral juggernauts when it comes to campaigns. Harris’ campaigns are front-porch campaigns and Dave’s have been kitchen table campaigns. Add in that Charles Potter, who had initially planned to primary Harris until Harris drew him out of the district, just might have reason to ‘cut’ Harris, (which might just explain the Martin candidacy) and you’ve got the makings for a fascinating race. If Brady can scrape the rust off his campaign operation (he last ran in 2002), an upset is quite possible.
4. Wilmington Mayoral Race.
More and more, this looks like a two-person race between Dennis P. Williams and Kevin Kelley. Bill Montgomery never had a chance trying to carry around the baggage from terminally-angry/arrogant incumbent James Baker. And Montgomery did himself no favors by joining Baker in acting in such a condescending manner to those who dared to disagree. The end of his candidacy will be merciful, as the real Bill Montgomery, who is a very nice and thoughtful guy, can resurface. Whether the candidacy lasts until primary day hardly matters. He can’t win. Neither can Bob Bovell nor Scott Spencer. Leaving Williams the favorite and Kelley the viable alternative. To me, the question might ultimately be: Can Williams keep from being his own worst enemy? He has a well-known temper that has already surfaced during the campaign. As in, how dare someone ask about his ongoing tax delinquencies? (Finally paid.) Wilmingtonians have made it pretty clear that they don’t want more arrogant/angry in the Mayor’s office for a fourth consecutive term. Can Williams keep it in check long enough to win the primary? To be determined.
3. Baumbach/Bock/Grant in 23rd.
One person will win. Two will not. Any and all of the three deserve to be in public service. I’m not sure I can ever recall a race like this with three great D’s running. There is no consensus amongst the DL contributors, and there will be no consensus amongst the voters of the 23rd. Bottom line: The voters can’t lose when all the candidates are winners. Man, why can’t I have choices like this?
2. Booth vs. Bodie in SD 19.
So, here’s your choice, Rethugs. Double-dipping ‘establishment’ candidate Joe Booth, Sussex County’s answer to Tony DeLuca, vs. certified teabagger and cross-dresser Eric Bodenweiser. For sheer entertainment value, this should be #1. Bodie challenged Booth last time, and almost won. Booth prevailed, 2157-2037. That was before, the day before, in fact, that Booth accepted a ‘made just for him’ position at Sussex Tech. That was also before the Sussex Republican Party adopted “Let us now worship at the altar of Jeff Christopher” as its motto. There can be little doubt that Bodie is the most fervent Christopher worshiper of the two candidates. What was that Biblical thing about not worshipping false idols? This race will pit the so-called R establishment vs. the crazies. If I had to place a bet right now, I’d bet on the crazies.
1. DeLuca vs. Townsend in SD 11.
This is the Big One. Folks, challenger Bryan Townsend is running a great campaign. Exactly the kind of grassroots campaign that you need to knock off a powerful and entrenched incumbent. As most of you know by now, DeLuca, aided and abetted by former Governor Ruth Ann Minner and Minner COS Mark Brainard, had a job created just for him. Serving both as a Senator and as the ‘Labor Enforcement Chief’ is and was illegal. And DeLuca has basically set his own arbitrary rules when it comes to his ‘enforcement’ responsibilities. Neither Beau Biden nor Gov. Markell have lifted a finger to correct this. In fact, Markell effectively controls DeLuca’s fate concerning both positions, and so, DeLuca has no choice but to push Markell’s agenda without fail. This might be an effective leveraging of power on the part of the Governor, but this continued enabling of DeLuca is cynical and wrong. For those of you who take the time to reread those linked DeLuca posts, you will note that I was optimistic that either Markell or Biden would do something about DeLuca. I was wrong. Fortunately, the voters can now do what our ‘leaders’ wouldn’t do. Replace someone who has abused power and who has worked to stuff his pockets full of filthy lucre with someone who is everything we could ask for in a candidate, meaning someone who will place the needs of his constituents ahead of his own interests. Enthusiastic, hard-working, using up lots of shoe leather, heading up a grassroots campaign, my favorite kind of campaign. Make no mistake: DeLuca will have more money, he will have ‘paid’ volunteers, mostly from unions, he may even have the support of the Governor in order to protect that unholy alliance. But DeLuca has never been an electoral powerhouse, first barely losing to Donna Reed, then barely defeating Donna Reed. Since Townsend is running an excellent campaign, the key will be this: Will the people who claim that DeLuca is unsuited for public office follow through with contributions of money, time and/or shoe leather? If we/they do, there will be a new Senator from the 11th District, and it won’t be Evan Queitsch. Wouldn’t that be cause for celebration?
Tags: Bill Montgomery Delaware, Bryan Townsend Delaware, Claudia Bock Delaware, David Brady Delaware, Dennis P. Williams Delaware, El Somnambulo, Eric Bodenweiser Delaware, Harris McDowell Delaware, James Martin Delaware, Jerry Grant Delaware, Joe Booth Delaware, Kevin Kelley Delaware, Paul Baumbach Delaware, Steve Tanzer Delaware, Tony DeLuca Delaware
3. Baumbach/Bock/Grant in 23rd. I like Paul, but if I’m in the 23rd I’m keeping my options open to see who puts in the shoe leather.
I don’t see that an R has filed, but the party has time to put someone in.
There had been a lot of speculation about Paul Pomeroy. However, he has reiterated that he’s not running, and there’s really not a ‘big name’ left.
I can’t believe that I’m typing this… but Bodie is being treated unjustly here. If wearing woman’s shoes in a picture once makes you a cross dresser, then I guess we are all cross dressers.
You’re SO right, Jason. I suspect that perhaps some of my best friends are cross dressers, although how do you really know?
There’s not even anything wrong with cross dressers who, pardon the expression, wear their bedrock religiosity on their puffy sleeves.
In fact, politics needs MORE of this. Which is why this race is ranked so highly.
I hear ya jason. glad we didn’t have facebook in college. i reflect proudly on some of my costumes.
OK, Venus and Jason. I feel sufficiently chastened. As penance, I propose to lead, and I hope you will follow, by dressing up in female garb (suddenly I find the idea of wearing frilly undergarments quite…stimulating). We will head on down to western Sussex where, armed with a lifesized blow-up picture of a highly-accessorized Bodie, we will hold a “Cross Dressers for Bodie” rally. Quite likely, the western Sussex fashion event of the season.
Who’s WITH ME!!??
I uhm… I’m expecting a call from my aunt in Philadelphia.
Oh I have no problem w/ female garb 🙂
Dead End Townsend is going to get bitch slapped. By 10 p.m. on election night he’ll be packing his bags for California.
“Bryan Townsend, you just won the Democratic primary in Senate District 11! What are you going to do now?”
“I’m going to Disneyland!” (packs bags for California)
I am glad to be a resident of the 11th SD.
Baumbach/Bock/Grant–thanks for the top rating for our race. It really is an exciting race.
As for shoe-leather, I have knocked on more than 800 doors (including many many hours in scorching temps), and my campaign manager won’t let me take a break until we win. My terrific team takes care of everything (fundraising, website, print materials, etc) except what I need to do–meet every voter and chat about their concerns and about our approach.
Another knee slapper !! Keep the jokes coming. And you dont know why and for whom he’s going to CA and it aint Disneyland!!!
(same reason/person he ran for office in the first place)
Aint that right, Dead End ??
Sounds awesome Paul. Good luck! Only 9 Saturdays to go (if my counting is right).
Hi Mr. Deluca. How are you? Tell me, when was the last time you actually talked to a constituent in your district.
e
Disemvowel this guy ^
Always fun to see the Dead End Democrats here stumping for their employers.
Geezer, I’ve seen loathsome characters in this place over the years – but Democrats affiliated with these double dipping, crony system fossils are the lowest of the low.
Has WDEL or WILM announced plans for on-air panels of candidates for any of these primary races?
Mystified on how a Kelley candidacy is seen to be ascendant. His year-end 2011 filing showed that he raised $300 from sources in the City [other than his wife].
I have no love for Tony Deluca, but Townsend doesn’t win that race. I bet he loses by 20%. Actually, let’s go with 17%.
El S – may I suggest a rally on The Circle in Georgetown? I can guarantee coverage by WBOC and the Cape Gazette.
FWIW, I’m glad there aren’t any pictures of me dressed up as Queen Esther from the Hebrew Educational Alliance’s 1967 Purim carnival anywhere to be found. 😉
JTF – I’ll say this. DeLuca has gone to some community meetings for the first time in memory in the past few months. And when he goes, I’m guessing that he has to introduce himself to virtually everyone there, because they’ve never laid eyes on him.
I’ve been away from Delaware for a while serving in the Army so I might have missed something. What is a Dead End Democrat? What does Disneyland and CA have to do with an election in DE? @Geezer; @Ha ha Good one!
“he may even have the support of the Governor in order to protect that unholy alliance”
Markell is officially supporting DeLuca.
If you agree with the assessment on this race, go to http://bryan2012.com/ and donate!
I think @Ha ha Good One! is talking about Townsend’s fiancee, who I am fairly certain is from California. But they are going to raise their family here in Delaware, where Townsend is from. Is DeLuca in any kind of position to make this campaign about family values?
@Aubrey: There are many old Democratic Party fossils and smug party insiders who like things the way they are. They run the state for the benefit of themselves and their cronies, not the public. Downstate used to have a big share of them, but their dinosaurs are dying off. What’s left are the upstate people like DeLuca and Patty Blevins who have used their elected positions to enrich themselves through government jobs, and the compromised union leaders who prop them up.
These are the people most threatened by a blog that emphasizes progressivism instead of simple enrollment in the Democratic Party.
To me, the only difference between DeLuca/Blevins and the Republicans is that the Republicans don’t pretend to be on my side.
JTF: Sadly, you’re probably correct. The distaste for DeLuca is statewide, not centered in his district, and his union backers will be sure to show up for the primary in a way an independent’s supporters might not.
So what is Deluca’s family life like? It sounds like Ha ha Good one! wants to talk about it.
Dave Brady was just on WDEL. Sounds good.
Aubrey: Not sure, but he sure yelped when it was pointed out that he was seen squiring his (younger, female) aide around.
Speaking of which, are any of the Sussex commenters aware whether Vance Phillips is still living with the Mrs.? One of the allegations in the anonymous letter is that she threw him out over his alleged behavior. Seems to me that if they’re still together, it throws the whole account into more doubt. I have asked this for weeks at Delaware Politics but nobody will answer me, which leads me to believe that they may in fact have separated. Anybody know?
I don’t know. How hard could it be to follow him when he leaves a county council meeting?
I don’t live down there, and I’m not THAT interested. I just find it curious that, if they’re still together, nobody who backs him has bothered to point that out.
Geezer – they are separated. Vance still lives on the farm and the watermelons are ready for harvesting.
Jason shows integrity. He is correct. Goofing off and trying on some high heels in a private home does not cross dressing make. Of course what makes me chuckle is that we conservatives are the ones who couldn’t care less if someone does cross dress in their own home. So what? Get a whig, make up, dress, and hills for all I care. My question is about the issues.
While it’s mildly amusing to see Bodenweiser in heels, getting on his knees in front of the County Council, with hat in hand (an actual cowboy hat, actually in his hand) begging the council to retract its support of the HB 325 was… well embarrassing, or would be to a normal person. I believe that being in the GA is serious business. Theatre and outlandish behavior has its place, but not there. I could never send someone to Dover who is so over the top that he invites portrayal as a vaudeville character.
David, aren’t you and St. Bodie Girl already Whigs?
Uh, HaHaGood One? We have a rule here. One pseudonym and one only. Either you’re Rafael Navarro or HaHaGood One. You can’t be both.
But, based on your comments, now I understand that your attacks on me are being done on behalf of Tony DeLuca and probably his fellow labor flunky John Viola.
Typical of a bully. Can’t silence the message, try to shut up the messenger.
Not my style El…… Keep talking ….. What you say is highly instructive
Speaking of Disneyland, I hear that DeLuca has a sideline job wearing the Goofy suit. (At least, someone said “DeLuca’s kind of goofy,” and I know how comfortable DeLuca is with holding down sideline jobs, so I figured . . . )
Claudia Bock’s announcement event is tonight at 7pm in Newark. For more information, go to ElectClaudia.com