Your Turn: Our Commenter’s Endorsements
Well, the Contributing Editors here at Delaware Liberal stirred the pot with our endorsements for the September 9th Democratic Primary. Those endorsements again are:
Governor–Jack Markell
Insurance Commissioner–No Endorsement
U.S. Congress–Jerry Northington
New Castle County Executive–Chris Coons
New Castle County Council President–Bill Dunn
Now it is your turn. Make your case for John Carney, Paul Clark, Tom Gordon, Mike Miller, and Karen Hartley Nagle. Tell us how we were wrong in not endorsing either Gene Reed, Karen Weldin Stewart or Tom Savage in the Insurance Commissioner’s race. Or, tell us how you love our endorsements and then shower us with praise and riches. I know, I know, I am delusional.
And don’t hold back, Liz. I swear, you bite your tongue too often.
Once again you have picked all the losers in office the ones that have raised our taxes and fees
This is DELAWARE Liberal, right? How about you have endorsements, you know, for, like, the other two-thirds of the state?
How about, like, you tell us who we missed in the rest of the state.
Oh, and the other 2/3 of the state is only appropriate if you are talking about geography.
Well, you also ignored other things in NCC like Wilmington mayor, a couple of the county council seats (12 and 8)… but also the state senate seats in 4, 6, and 10, and the rep. set in 41. Not to mention the rest of the Wilmington city council spots, Kent County levy court, and two spots in the Sussex county council. It’s not really that many, it’s a small state, it would be helpful to all your readers.
Wait..Andy…I thought you were from Wyoming? Oh shit – there’s a town called Wyoming, Delaware? Who knew? (snark snark snark)
Andrew – we don’t really have the resources to get in that deep. That is why we are asking who YOU recommend. So…?
In addition to DL’s picks of Markell and Northington, PDD also endorsed Michael Katz (4th SD), John Mackenzie (6th SD), John Cartier (8th NCC district), and Tom Scherer (12th NCC district).
On the ‘cover the whole state’ issue, there are very few Democratic primary races in Kent/Sussex. Certainly the city of Wilmington races have been ‘under-covered’ by DL and PDD. I am fairly certain that all Delaware Democratic candidates were provided with PDD candidate surveys, and that none of the candidates running in Wilmington primary races completed and returned theirs.
Yes, I am disappointed you did not do the rest of CC, senate seats, and Wilm.
For CC
I pick tom scherer 12th district
no endorsement in 8th district
I love Markell, I think I like Northington, CC Pres ?? IS there another choice
cc Ex- I have to pick Dunn, Clark doesn’t work 4 us.
others not sure
Senate Seat 4 Rich Abbott
Senate Seat 6 Mike Terranova
Senate Seat 10 Is hard ? Toss Up between Andrea Daley & Bethany Long Hall still thinking
Wilm.
President CC Norman Griffiths
1 the new person
2 Congo
3 Stephanie Bolden is great
4 Hanifa Shabazz is good
8 Stephen Martelli
at large Daris Brown works for general assembly
kent 3 Allan Angel
Thanks, I hope u like them
On my blog site (http://paulprogressive.blogspot.com/) I have endorsed Northington, Markell, and Coons in the primary.
Despite living in the 6th SD, I have endorsed neither John MacKenzie nor Mike Terranova, but will endorse the victor in their race against Liane Sorenson. Both candidates have agreed that, if they lose on Tuesday, they will endorse the other in the general election against Liane.
I would like to see Michael Katz and Tom Scherer win their respective primary races (although I don’t live in their districts).
Hah! I noticed that none of you has endorsed Barck Obama for President! I knew that y’all would see the light! 🙂
I didn’t know Obama was running in the state primary.
Also, I didn’t know that the state Treasurer had the power to impose taxes.
Dana #10, PDD, and I, have endorsed several candidates in the general election. JL in #11 correctly notes that this thread was designed to cover Tuesday’s primary election races.
Markell
KHN
KWS
Gordon
Dunn
that’s who I am particularly favoring
Markell
Northington
Reed
Coons
Dunn
Un-Endorsements: Some Candidates I will not vote for.
City of Wilmington Council:
Second District
I wouldn’t vote for “Trippi” Congo, after he explained his plan to make sure that the city took our children out to the country for fresh air in the summer, and that he was going to do a bunch of things to help people. He didn’t discuss how to fund these programs, or how they would reduce crime, generate jobs, or help with the housing crisis, which are my hot button issues.
I like Norm Griffiths, but I would not be comfortable with both he and his wife Michelle sitting on City Council together.
At Large
I would not vote for Sam Guy, after he urged his supporters to “bullet” the other candidates several years ago. To “bullet” means to tell your supporters to only vote for you and to not vote for two other candidates in hopes of lowering the other candidate totals enough to win yourself. It’s indicative of a weak candidate, with a self serving agenda.
County Council Executive
I ‘m not willing to give Gordon 4 more years to loot the County Treasury and waste tax payer money on projects that primarily serve his political base, county employees, rather than the constituents. We taxpayers are still paying for what Gordon did last time in office. He may not have only been convicted of a misdemeanor last time, but I don’t want to give him another shot at winning that felony conviction.
County Council President
We don’t need 4 more years of a developer’s husband setting the agenda for County Council.
Insurance Commissioner:
I’ll miss Matt Denn, who set a really high bar that none of these candidates came near.
U.S Representative
After Hartley Nagel and her allies caused the collapse of Common Cause Delaware, I won’t trust her agenda. When you destroy a good non-partisan organization to create your own personal political base, you are not working for the constituents, you are working for yourself. Just like County Executive Gordon with the County Employees and Mike Protack with the IPOD.
A correction to #7, PDD did NOT send questionnaires to the City primary candidates.
Governor: Markell
Insurance Commissioner: Buh? Leaning Reed.
Congress: Northington
4th SD: Mike Katz
6th SD: John Mackenzie (though I’m a big fan of Liane’s, and may end up being undecided in the general)
County Exec: Reluctantly supporting Coons
County Council Pres: No endorsement. Clark’s a crook and an idiot, and Dunn’s a regressive idiot.
Re: Karen’s office space
I’ve spoken to Karen and she said the reason she hasn’t yet reported the office space is because a bill hasn’t yet been generated. A combination of rent and electric will make up the bill and that total hasn’t yet been made available to Karen. It will be on Karen’s year-end report.
This is off the topic, but remember when Obama was in town, and there was a picture taken of Obama, with Carney and Markell on each side of him??? Well, in today’s mail there was an ad for John Carney, with that picture — but it was only of Carney and Obama. Someone got out the scissors…..
Ugh, no surprise there, June. Carney will do anything to win this election. If only we could “clip” his and Minner’s legacy from the past eight years!
Re Mike, thread #18
I have never heard of a landlord doing business this way. That office has been occupied by KHN since at least early July. There should be a deposit and the first month’s rent at the very least already reported. Do not believe everything you hear.
I hope it won’t be on the year-end report because that would mean failing to file the 3rd Quarterly Report. Do you see a pattern here of lack of compliance with the FEC reporting rules? Is this a person who should represent us in Congress?
Dee Durham deserves state senate nomination in 4th Senate district.
http://www.deedurham.org/
Runs from Graylyn Crest to North Star. The right Democrat (and the wrong Republican) could make this an interesting race.
Speaking of rules…It appears the Del State Dem Committee is breaking a few State finance laws by funneling money into the 6th State Democratic District headed by Bob Marshall. A Carney piece was sent to the 3rd Senate District and selected other Rep Districts touting JC as the Party’s choice. The piece was sent to 10,000 households. District Committees are limited to the same $1,200 contribution as individuals. This piece, going to 10,000 households had to have cost somewhere around $5,000 at least. And, that’s not the only piece shipped out by Marsahll and his Rep District. A ballot piece was sent out to everyone in the 3rd Senate District listing Carney, Coons, Clark, Reed, Baker and 3 council at large candidates. That piece drove the infraction up even higher.
The thing is, the New Castle County 6th Democratic District doesn’t even have any finance reports filed….also a violation of finance laws.
My guess is Carney’s team has figured out how bad they’re losing and all ethics have been thrown to the wind. This doesn’t even address the State Party Contribution to Carney’s campaign which exceeds the allowed $75,000 to a single candidate by about $25,000 for a total in excess of $100,000.
Sad thing is, it’s a bit late in the game to make issue of the legality of what they’ve done because all of the lit is on the street already. I hope Markell’s team goes after the party and all participants in this blatant violation of the law. Somehow, though, I think Minner will brush it all aside like everything else that has happened under the Minner-Carney reign.
Funny, John. RE: #22, I don’t know if I’d want somebody who wasn’t a Democrat until late March (who went on the record saying she’d voted for Barack Obama) to represent my party in the fall.
The only way to fight it now is to make sure Jack wins by getting out the vote on Tuesday. This is the absolute best way to start fixing what’s broken in the party structure. If the party gets away with this BS again and again, then we will keep getting the old politics as usual from our elected leaders.
My God, PI. This shit is ridiculous. I’m in the 3rd Senate and haven’t yet received that ballot piece. I look forward to it. Why the Democrats are sending out a list of “preferred” candidates in a primary is beyond me. These people are nucking futs. Good reading!
Re: Lynam. Not a compelling reason. Similar arguments were mustered against Jim Webb.
John Manifold // Sep 6, 2008 at 3:21 pm
Dee Durham deserves state senate nomination in 4th Senate district.
Are you kidding, John? What has she done to DESERVE it? Last time I was involved in working on a campaign (as early as this morning), the candidate had to EARN the support. A few weird yard signs strategically placed in right-of-ways is hardly the way to get elected. It takes worn shoe leather and talking to voters to win. Michaek Katz is knocking doors, doing mailers and lit drops, and showing up at meetings. If anyone Deserves it, it’s Katz.
Re: #27
If Webb had a more, I don’t know, Democratic opponent in a primary (and, for that matter, one more likely to take the state, if we’re working with the Katz-Durham parallel), I’d support his opponent. If not for the consistency then for the simple reason that you don’t reward manipulative lies.
After Hartley Nagel and her allies caused the collapse of Common Cause Delaware
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That is the worst sort of pollution I could ever have the sorrow of inhaling.
Yeah, Wilmington Curmudgeon’s just about the densest moron I’ve read today. Unless he/she was involved personally in the CC debacle (which I doubt), then I’d advise him/her to shut up.
Jim Webb’s primary opponent, Harris Miller, was very much a Democrat, a liberal activist with a 20-year pedigree in party and social justice issues. Webb was just the better candidate.
Durham would likewise be the better candidate here.
Guys, I find it a little lame you chose to write “No Endorsement” for Insurance Commissioner. If you all feel that making an endorsement may mean something for your many readers (which I completely agree that it does), than don’t you think you owe those same readers a reason as to why you chose to not endorse any of the three candidates, instead of abstaining?
Hartley-Nagle undercut Dennis Spivack in the ’06 general election and she wants Democratic support?
Belinsky: Get over it.
Durham would likewise be the better candidate here.
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I’d vote for her if I lived up that way. She would bring a sorely-needed perspective to our dear legis. High Culture!
Belinsky and Wilmington Curm raise excellent points. Hartley-Nagle has been “me first” in anything she’s touched in her brief public life.
Maybe I’d vote for her ahead of Jeff Komlo, but the list isn’t long.
A friend of mine got a ballot piece from Daniello in the mail also. She lives in Arden.
El Somnambulo will be voting for the endorsed slate plus Karen Weldin Stewart (he can’t vote for any remnant of the Reed dynasty) and John Cartier (perennial loser Carl the Tuna is tied to the corrupt Tom Gordon).
PDD endorsement committee interviewed both Durham and Katz for the 4th SD. We liked both of them as progressives but endorsed Katz for several reasons, two of which are: (1) as a pediatric anesthesiologist his priority issue is healthcare, which is more important on a state level than land use (a county issue), which is what Dee is experienced in. Katz was instrumental in the negotiations with Aetna when they wanted to discontinue coverage for anesthesia for colonoscopies. He was one of the negotiators who got them to reverse their decision. (2) Katz is a lifelong Dem., whereas Dee registered as a Dem. (after being a lifelong Rep.) the end of March. Katz had already filed for that seat when she filed. If there had been no good Dem. already filed, that would be different, but there was and our comm. didn’t look real favorably on that.
#15 ….and just how do you think Freel and Walsh are repeatedly re-elected?????
If the ‘at large’ seats were truly at large….using Wilmington’s population there would be two or three minorities in the at large seats. As it is there are always two europeans. ‘Nuff said.
African Americans are particularly sensitive to being ‘disenfranchised’ ….idea of ‘bulleting’ is not acceptable to most of the populaltion.
I caution you on city politics: speak not on what you know not.
June’s comments are, as usual, thoughtful and brimming with good faith. Her message is a clear mandate that the winner deserves the other candidate’s support after Tuesday. Two nits.
1. Katz’s candidacy predated Durham’s by three weeks. http://electionsncc.delaware.gov/candidates/2008/2008_filed.shtml
2. Granting the seriousness of the health care crisis, land use is the far more important state government issue. Just as fundamental correction of health care must be national in scope, fundamental change in land use can only emanate from the General Assembly, which has plenary power over counties and municipalities.
Even in right-thinking counties, land-use restrictions can be evaded by towns ravenous for transfer-tax revenue. The situation in Sussex, which is beyond the scope of this thread, is dire, and the developers are trying to buy back Kent’s Levy Court. Variances and weakening ordinances are constant problems at the county level. Clear state legislation can shut off those problems with relative finality. Imagine the gaps and regular weakening if the Coastal Zone Act had been enacted by a county.
Only if the General Assembly has know-how and committed leadership – in both chambers and both parties – on this issue will Delaware avoid becoming a permutation of north Jersey.
Karen Weldin Stewart is the pick for Insurance Commissioner. Hard work and Honesty, how can you go wrong? And in the County, I wish all Council offices were Contested. Let’s work on that next time. Gordon and Dunn are human and they’re on our side!!
“Unless he/she was involved personally in the CC debacle (which I doubt), then I’d advise him/her to shut up.”
We’re back to this? You advise him/her to shut up or you’ll do what, Mike? Ban him for not agreeing with you?
Get over ’06 or what? Suffer your wrath?
Your blindness to the divisive effect this candidate spreads is your problem, not the rest of ours.
Good points John– the state should be taking this on so the law is uniform across all three counties–three counties!! How hard can it be to do it? A uniform state law would hopefully end the “who’s in who’s pocket” debate that seem to go on forever.
Development is going to happen–people have the right to sell their land, the buyers have the right to develop it. The state should have final say since they are responsible for the roads and schools which seems to be a core issue of what upsets people about new development. Why can’t our state legislators say to all three counties this is how we are going to do this going forward and override all county laws? I guess that is just a dream.
Gordon has never been on anyone’s side but his own. Now all the problems in his administration were committed by his out-of-control hatchet woman, eh? The one he never had an affair with?
OK, I’ll play along. Where was he while she ran wild? Why didn’t he stop her? What did he mean by the line, “She has too much s*** on me?”
If Gordon is blaming everything on Freebery now, as his apologists here seem to indicate, I’d like to hear exactly what she did wrong. Allocution, they call it in the law.
How can you people claim he’s reformed if he still refuses to say he did anything wrong?
I’m not taking the bait, Al. No more.
Al- the only thing that is going to end the debate is Tuesday. Even then people(some) will say Gordon got a bad deal. Thankfully, majority rules.
Thanks Mike! Did you also consider my IPOD comment from DWA in reaching your conclusion about my molecular composition? I mean gosh, we can’t all be as irreverant (irrelvevant) as you. Is it because you endorse KHN, Gordon, Guy, Mrs. Griffiths or Trippi that you took offense to my post? Who are you endorsing (or not endorsing)?
WC,
What are you talking about? If I gave a shit, I’d actually do endorsements. The only person I’ll be openly endorsing (on Monday) is Jack Markell. Karen is a friend. Gordon is an acquaintance I’ve spoken with very briefly (maybe twice in the last three months) and I don’t even know who the hell Guy, Mrs. Griffiths or Trippi are.
PDD’s decision to endorse Katz over Durham was a hard one. Dee is a very good person and very progressive, and no matter who wins that race, we’ll have a winner.
Mike, mea culpa, I thought you were a south-side city guy. As for not giving a shit, at least you stir the sewage pot, and for that I thank you. But you were just baiting me, and I went for it.
Anyone with a name like Curmudgeon ain’t all that bad in my book. I owe you a drink and a slap on the back!
We taxpayers are still paying for what Coons did last time in office. He may not have only been UNAWARE, but I don’t want to give him another shot at SellingOut our County for Developers. I read this pomposity about reluctantly voting for Coons and it is a mystery- You just don’t get it!
Reward him with a job in Washington, but he is destroying my County by deliberately voiding all LU rules as policy. A recent Commercial building was built 1/3 larger than allowed, but they refuse to acknowledge it? Vote for Gordon! don’t make an effete do do for Coons-
If you had asked Jim Webb who he voted for in 84, he would have said Reagan, not Gary Hart. I’m not big on him being an R before (regardless of whether his opponent was a D and lost, I would have supported him more readily, by the sound of it). The problem with Dee is that she lied.
To Delaware Liberal Official Staff:
Subject: your lack of Insurance Commissioner Endorsement:
Why not call Rick Jensen and ask who he supports? He was present during the Insurance “debate”.
Then endorse the opposite of what he says? 🙂
Excellent idea. Jensen is the perfect reverse barometer.
“Mike Matthews // Sep 6, 2008 at 2:11 pm
Re: Karen’s office space
I’ve spoken to Karen and she said the reason she hasn’t yet reported the office space is because a bill hasn’t yet been generated. A combination of rent and electric will make up the bill and that total hasn’t yet been made available to Karen. It will be on Karen’s year-end report.”
Very convenient, unfortunately it’s not legal. That would constitute a loan, which must also be listed with the FEC.
The pattern continues.
Call It — we posted why we were not endorsing for Insurance Commissioner when we started this series of posts last week.
Your blindness to the divisive effect this candidate spreads is your problem, not the rest of ours.
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Fuck off Al, Mike was actually THERE and you weren’t. “You have a second-hand one-sided view. There are no blinders here.
Your personal friendships pollute what little personality you own and you have admitted to me that you only know what you were told about it by someone else. So really, fuck off.
As far as what Mike has said here about the office space arrangements, I have never heard any of that and I am in those campains frequently.
Comparing Dee Durham and Jim Webb holds no weight. Jim Webb changed his party when his political leanings no longer matched up with the Republicans. Dee Durham admitted that she has always been Democrat in her political leanings. However, she never found it important enough to change her party to vote for candidates that lined up with her beliefs. Jim Webb also never mislead people about who he voted for. If you ask him who did he vote for in 1980 and 1984, he would tell you straight up, Ronald Reagan, and he has. When asked who did you VOTE for in the 2008 Democratic Primary, Dee Durham answered Barack Obama. She couldn’t have voted for him. And if she felt it was so important to elect Barack Obama, then why didn’t she change her party to elect him during the primary? This might seem like a mute issue in the race for the 4th, but it shows us what kind of person she is politically. Mike Katz is straight forward and he isn’t tied to the “Good Old Boy Network” that Durham is. She is endorsed by all the same people who have held up progress in the general assembly. She will not change things, she has shown to be someone who can be swayed or someone who will not fight for change. Mike Katz has the experience and the vision to lead. We need change in Delaware. We need Mike Katz.
“Was A Willing Blogger // Sep 7, 2008 at 12:23 pm
As far as what Mike has said here about the office space arrangements, I have never heard any of that and I am in those campains frequently.”
I’m not really clear what you are saying here –was Mike M. mistaken? Was KHN lying?
And now that I think about it, if Tom Gordon allowed KHN to use his office space, depending on the actual VALUE of the space (about a dollar a square foot?) that could constitute an illegal campaign contribution or loan.
Wow –imagine that.
“Fuck off Al, Mike was actually THERE and you weren’t. “You have a second-hand one-sided view. There are no blinders here.
Your personal friendships pollute what little personality you own and you have admitted to me that you only know what you were told about it by someone else. So really, fuck off.”
You just exude class, don’t you? I have no friendships in this primary. You do, as does Mike. So check that mirror.
I verified with KHN yesterday that her campaign is getting billed for her share of the costs of the office space by the Gordon campaign at the end of the primary period.
Was a Willing Blogger // Sep 8, 2008 at 12:17 pm
“I verified with KHN yesterday that her campaign is getting billed for her share of the costs of the office space by the Gordon campaign at the end of the primary period.”
See, that’s the problem –at the end of the primary period. That is against the law –let me say that again, just in case it didn’t get through the first 10 times I said it –that is against the law.
The entire purpose of the campaing finance act was so everyone knows what is going on before the actual election.
Assuming Was a Willing Blogger is being truthful here, which I believe is the case, that means KHN hs admitted that she has broken campaign finance laws.
See my point, campaign finance laws are designed so the voters, opposing candidates and anyone else who might be interested knows where money and in-kind contributions are coming from BEFORE the actual voting –because that may play a part in your voting decisions.
This isn’t a minor transgression –at the very least it is an illegal campaign loan from Tom Gordon (or Gordon’t landlord) to Karen Hartley-Nagle.
But it also illustrates the manner in which KHN has run her campaign –with little regard for rules, laws or accuracy.
It is just very disturbing.
Oh, and last I checked, that mythical $5,000 contribution from a labor union that was going to pay for the Karen’s DC based political consultant was not reported within the required 48 hours.
It’s astonishing, really.
you are a lying …. well, you know what.
No, Willing Blogger, I’m not.
And, for what it’s worth, I just heard that KHN’s campaign made robo-calls a couple of weeks ago. (You know, those are the annoying calls that are recorded that campaigns use when they can’t find enough volunteers to make live calls.)
Oddly, (he said sarcastically) those calls never showed up on Karen’s most recent FEC filing.
Now, I’m sure there is some good explanation of this –probably someone she knows owns the company that does the robo-calls, and that person donated the calls, and somehow Karen forgot to list them as an in-kind contribution.
Or something like that.
You can bet that she’ll be on the phone with that person in the morning! 😉
bob cooper: those annoying robo calls that candidates make when they don’t have enough volunteers…hahaha! You mean like all the candidates use?
heard Karen owns her robo callers!
Damn. If I ever run for anything I want BobCooper in my corner.