2007: The year of the Scandal
I have to say that I’m impressed with little Delaware’s ability to field such a well-rounded list of scandals this year. Let’s have a closer look, shall we?
Bill Oberle/Blue Hen Promotions Scandal
elected official uses his position to get some money to a family member. Shocking!..I mean ZZZzzzzz…No sex, no drugs…I give this a C+
Wayne Smith’s Cut and Run
From “fastest rising GOP star” to “see ya later tater!” Smith was smart enough to hit the revolving door running as soon as John Kowalko got to Dover. Good riddance, yes..but scandal…? I give it aD+
John Atkins’ Self-Destruction
What I would give to see Mrs. Atkins in the “sexy cop” costume she was wearing that night. *sigh* This one let everyone (EVEN CELIA) feel like one of the “good guys.” Grade: A
Mike Protack’s Router
How can a guy get stone cold busted and shake it off like that? Must be the Marine Corps flight training. If he had folded I’d go higher but with Mike still the only announced “R”, I give this is a C.
The Lowfink Escheat Scandal
I love this. It has everything except clumsy bathroom sex. [It even contains the words “cheat” and “fink” in its title. It’s like a scandal harmonic convergence!] Millions stolen, political cronyism and patronage, a “mums the word” cover-up that reaches into the highest levels of state government. Come to think of it, maybe clumsy bathroom sex does figure in at some point. Hmmm? Grade: A
John Still’s Out-of-District Love Nest
Why is it always the guys who make a big stink about family values that end up in seaside assignations with mistresses? Oh, I know. Because the guys who make a big stink about family values are mainly Republicans. Grade: B+
Common Cause’s Implosion
Good government reformers form circular firing squad. What else is new? Grade: D
Tommy Little/IPOD Bruhaha
I don’t want to break my string of 10 consecutive months of not caring about the Independent Party, so I’ll leave it to Liz Allen to grade this one in the comments section.
And….two that did not make the list but these are close to my heart.
Brian N. Moore: Very well Paid Lightbulb Changer
That might have been 2006..?
Mike Castle Fires Elizabeth Wenk
Some say it was gross incompetence. Anyway, emailing Castle’s office aint what it used to be. Grade: A+
Ferris Wharton clips a car on I-95 on the way home from (where?) then high-tails it for home, dropping off an unknown passenger on the way. Alert citizen turns Ferris in. Cops stop by and chat about the weather for a while and then leave. News Journal isn’t even curious.
Does the DE Psych Center register here? Or Mayor Baker’s admin clearly colluding w/ the reps of development interests and actually letting them draw up the lists of the properties it wants to acquire as the basis for the development plan.
Those don’t register here at all? Is it because Dems were in charge?
Dana Garrett changing his positions on numerous issues and personalities because he’s envisioning a run for office… that’s a big change in 2007.
What about DMA and the bond financing kerfuffle? See, that’s the difference between FSP and DL. We have no problem criticizing Republicans when it’s necessary. You guys are just a bunch of party shills. Leaving the Dems off the scandal list? Come on.
those soul have been good ones to nominate.
Dave –
you kill me.
Let me try to separate scandal from incompetence. Scandal is really the public implosion of a public figure. Rarely is this the result of policy or professional incompetence. As I think it is with Meconi, et al.
Nor is a scandal when there is a policy clash. If we had found out that the reason for scuttling DMA’s funding was because of a strange lovers triangle involving RAM, that would have been a scandal.
Besides, the scandal nominations are closed. Please feel free to nominate the best blog post of the year.
After 3PM, you can vote. Keep your eye on this space for the next nomination round, also at 3PM.
DPC is a public scandal by any definition. Beatings, intimidation, shredding, stonewalling, and possibly cover-up are all on the plate. Even if he is somehow innocent, just for appearances sake Meconi should have been replaced long ago by an untouchable health-care management professional.
Common Cause Implosion has a backstory that may or may not become public…just sayin
The story of Baker’s planning dept. as shills for development is mimiced in every county land use dept and probably each municipality.
Look a bit wider to the state’s planning office for the real picture here. Look at the public financing of Bayberry roads through an agreement signed by Blenheim Homes, Nathan Hayward and Pam Scott-Paul Clarky here.
http://www.sncca.org/transportation.html
The FOIA obtained by SNCCA included copies of this public private arrangement having been written by Saul Ewing attorney and notes by Ralph Reeb and others as it traveled back and forth between DelDOT and Saul offices.
The FOIA also uncovered a letter from Nathan Hayward to Sherry Freebery reminding her of her promise to fund the southern sewer system when she was reneging on it in her run against Coons.
Don’t forget the Red Clay finance screwups. Kilroy is all over it rying to bust it out into the mainstream news.