‘Bulo’s Top 10 Republican Targets for 2010-#3

29th Representative District-Pam Thornburg

Or, instead of Pam’s name, should it read ‘No Incumbent’?

Pam Thornburg is very unlikely to seek reelection. She almost lost (well, actually, the initial count showed that she had lost, but it turns out there had been a counting error) against first-time candidate Charles ‘Trey’ Paradee in 2006. She is in what everybody in Leg Hall knows is a committed relationship and, if the commitment becomes permanent, the happy couple will not be living in Kent County. You can bank on it.

Challenger Paradee ran a great race. The Thornburg race was considered probably the fifth-highest Kent County priority by the D’s (behind the challenges by Bushweller, Scott and Bennett, and the ultimately successful attempt to protect Rep. Bob Walls), and Paradee really had to run w/o the party help that both he and the party would have liked. Thornburg was not heartbroken when it appeared that she had lost. In fact, she sent a classy congratulations letter to Paradee. Say what you will about Thornburg, but Norm Coleman she is not. She’s an engaging and likable person.

Paradee and his family are well-known in Kent County. While the pictures in this campaign bio, particularly the one in front of the fireplace, may be a little too ‘to the manor born’ for ‘bulo’s proletarian tastes, at least you can see that blue is the family’s favorite color.  And the information there on his background, education,  work experience, and community activities, is excellent. Read it as this could well be your next State Representative from the 29th. Yes, he belongs to the NRA, but if you’re from Kent County, want to run for office, and don’t belong to the NRA, you’re in trouble. And, according to the bio, Trey is a talented rock and jazz drummer, which at least trumps the NRA thingy in ‘bulo’s eyes. Well, except for that Ted Nugent thingy…

The Beast Who Slumbers sees one possible yellow, if not red, flag, in the biography:

In late 2000, Trey’s father sold Paradee Gas Co. Shortly thereafter, Trey was recruited by Merrill Lynch to work as a financial advisor. In 2003, Trey joined Edward Jones Investments and opened an investment and financial planning office located at 3 S. American Ave. in downtown Dover. Trey’s office provides investment and financial services for individuals and small businesses and helps families invest for college and retirement. 

Let’s hope that Trey is/was a prudent and cautious investor for his clients. Other than that, he’s got a bio that political parties would kill for. Plus, the guy campaigned up a storm in 2006. If he runs again, he wins.

And, while Kent County has never been a progressive bastion, the Beast Who Slumbers especially liked this answer by Paradee from the  2006 News-Journal questionnaire:

6 – Do you support a law that would ban discrimination based on a person’s sexual preference?

    I do not believe in “special rights”, but I do believe in equal rights.  Discrimination of any type should not be tolerated. Fifty years from now, people will look back on this issue and say, “Can you believe it used to be okay in Delaware to fire someone just because of what they may or may not practice in the privacy of their own homes?” I would support the ban.  Live and let live.

Progressives will not get anything better than than out of Kent County.

The key to victory is simple: Charles Paradee should run again, and he should be running right now.  El Somnambulo’s earlier profile of the Cathcart-Walker race outlined the pitfalls of not capitalizing on a valiant first effort.

It makes even more sense for Paradee to continue to campaign b/c, when and if Thornburg officially retires, Paradee will essentially be the de facto incumbent. The race will appear daunting to a prospective R challenger, and it could be difficult to recruit a formidable foe for Paradee. The registration numbers in the district do not reflect a slam-dunk district for the D’s, and electoral experience in Kent County almost always shows the R’s outperforming the registration figures, probably b/c the I’s break better than 50-50 to the Rethugs. Current registration in the 29th is as follows: 6938 D’s, 5567 R’s, and 4119 I’s.  The District votes more conservatively than the numbers. In 2008, Obama only edged McCain here, 5784-5419,  and Biden only beat Wackjob O’Donnell, 6106-5134, in the US Senate race.

The Dems must lock Paradee up early, they must provide plenty of support, and Paradee must display the same work ethic he did in 2006.  Markell and Denn did much better in the District than Obama, so the Governor’s campaign team could really help with this race.

With that gameplan, Paradee wins regardless of what Thornburg does. Without Paradee, this race is much further down the list, and it’ll be every bit as tough a district to win as Bob Walls’ was to win and retain. Doable, but a flip of the coin.

Here’s hoping that both Thornburg and Paradee secure successful long-term relationships in 2010. Thornburg with her Significant Other, and Paradee with his constituents in the 29th.

A Note to Loyal Readers: El Somnambulo apologizes for the relative dearth of snark in today’s entry. This profile didn’t lend itself to snark, somehow. Do not worry, amigos. The Beast Who Slumbers is in no way suffering from Snark Block. Come back tomorrow when, like the kaleidoscopic colors of spring, ‘bulo’s snark will be present in all its wond’rous glory.