What Adams’ Death Might Mean in the Short-Term
Yes, it is unseemly, and, yes, El Somnambulo wishes he didn’t have to write this.
But there are real and immediate potential impacts to Senator Adams’ death, and they must be dealt with very quickly.
First, it is essential that the Senate select a new President Pro-Tempore. Unlike the positions of majority/minority leader and majority/minority whip, the President Pro-Tem, like the Speaker of the House, is elected by the entire legislative body. In addition to legislative duties like assigning bills to committee and making committee appointments, the Pro-Tem is also the Administrative Officer of the Senate. He/she approves or disapproves expenses, sets salaries, makes personnel decisions and the like. While the legislative business of the Senate might be able to continue w/o a Pro-Tem for the next four days, the ongoing operation of the Senate cannot.
El Somnambulo suspects that the two caucuses might agree to temporarily designate a President Pro-Tempore, likely Tony DeLuca, to fill out the remainder of this session, with Sen. Blevins serving as the Senate Majority Leader. Since they were second and third in line respectively behind Adams, that would seem to make the most sense for the sake of continuity. The Majority Whip position, currently held by Blevins, would likely go to someone who has held the position before, possibly McDowell or Marshall. That would also make sense as the Whip is often responsible for putting together the legislative must-lists, which are lists of prioritized bills, and on-the-job training is not really something that anyone would want in the last week of session.
From a ceremonial standpoint, the Senate in theory could function as it is now. It would just mean that Lt. Governor Matt Denn would have to pretty much preside over the Senate full-time until the session ended.
There can be no doubt that Adams’ death will make it exceedingly difficult to resolve the State’s budget crisis by June 30/July 1. The General Assembly had only been scheduled to be in session for four more times. This was surprising as both houses generally work four days in the hump-week before the final day of session. Any postponement of legislative action makes the timetable that much more difficult to meet. If an entire day is lost, good pieces of legislation might also get lost in the shuffle.
In addition, the Big Head Committee is presumably down a member. Sen. Nancy Cook was one of Adams’ closest friends/allies, and it is not clear how she’ll function this week. The $800 million deficit is not going to resolve itself. That is why El Somnambulo believes that there is now a major possibility that some sort of ongoing stopgap funding to keep State government in business will be agreed to by June 30, and (‘bulo does not wish to appear crass, but there it is) Adams’ death can be used as an excuse. Of course, that means that the General Assembly would have to come back into session to hammer out the real budget. Perhaps being forced to miss beach time will finally focus the legislators on the task at hand.
Adams’ death will also make it difficult for the Senate and the House to coordinate with each other. While Bernard Brady, the Secretary of the Senate, is beyond compare when it comes to keeping things running smoothly, he does not have the authority to coordinate legislative must-lists, for example. Which is all the more reason why the Senate will sadly have to move swiftly to replace Adams.
Probably beginning today.
I have very little time so I cannot go into detail, however the recipie given above is a lesson on how to continue as we are, or always have been.
Those who think the way can be better, who think the opportunities have been lost, who think the old way of minimizing or pressing down the people who elected them to serve and coddling with lobbyists instead, is a practice that should be discouraged…. must see this as a grand opportunity given by Providence to allow those changes necessary which may one day better the cause of humanity..
At least for the humanity of this, the second smallest state…
There is new blood in the Senate. New blood that was put there because voters were fed up with the old…
The voters are the ones whose needs shall be respected. Not those who “are in line” for their silence over past indiscretions…..
‘Bulo agrees w/Kavips philosophically.
However, he thinks that short-term exigencies will likely make continuity Priority #1 in the Caucus. Once session is over and Adams’ senatorial successor is chosen, who knows?
Unless it’s Peterson, it doesn’t matter.
Is SB 121 being delayed?
I would like to see decisions on who is senator pro tempore and majority leader, etc, to come from those who prevailed in the vote to suspend rules to bring HB1 to the senate floor, and from those who opposed Adams/Venables/etc on SB27 (constitutional amendment defining marriage).
These represent the majority of the senate, and best represent today’s voters in Delaware. As such, they should ascend to leadership positions.
OK, not a very Delaware Way approach, but hey, I can dream …
Unless it’s Peterson, it doesn’t matter.
I couldn’t agree any more than that, but would she have the required support? You don’t get to the top of the good-governement Legislator hill without deeply bruising some egos on the way. Unfortunately, there are members there with far too long memories for stuff like that, too.
I would be incredibly happy to see Senator Peterson get that spot.
Also we need to look at the special election to fill the remainder of Adams’ term. Which republican will run for the seat? Who will the Dems get to run that can hold on to the seat? Interesting times.
Hocker will run. Guarantee it.
That’s a seat up in 2010, correct? So, it would be a one-year-stint with a re-do in 2010. THEN, when they passed the Senate going to 4-year-terms, didn’t they make some funky deal where they all have to run again in 2012, post-reapportionment? I could totally be dreaming that, but it’s sticking in my brain as it is the case.
Som – Your sketch of interim leadership makes sense, except that I cannot imagine that an all-upstate lineup will take shape.
Might the Whip position go to a downstater with caucus-wide credibility? George Howard?
Smitty is right. The person taking the seat would have to run in 2010 and 2012.
‘Bulo doesn’t think, but he’s not sure, that Hocker is in Adams’ district. He thinks that Hocker’s in Bunting’s district. And, since this is a Special Election, there will be no primary. He’s not sure what the Sussex party rules are, but, on the D side, the candidate likely would be chosen by the committee members residing in Adams’ district.
Smitty is also correct. After reapportionment, which takes place every 10 years and will be in place for the 2012 election, all 21 Senate seats are up. It makes sense since all 21 Senate seats will invariably be at least slightly different geographically than they were before reapportionment.
And John Manifold’s logic is spot-on. ‘Bulo’s only point is that this cobbled-together leadership would be designed to get the Senate through the last few days of this session. The REAL leadership battle, if there is one, would take place when the Senate Caucus meets, some time after the Special Election for Adams’ seat.
On the GOP side, I can see Sussex County Councilman Sam Wilson running, as well as Rep. Joe Booth and maybe freshman Rep. Dave Wilson. On the Dem side, perhaps Dem County Chair Pat Ewing, who was close to Adams.
The talked-about matchup in a general election following Adams’ retirement was Joe Booth v. Ken McDowell from the Dept. of Elections. It hasn’t come up for a while, though, so who knows.
I wonder if Matt Opaliski (one time controbutor to the old First State Politics) will give it another go, and is he still IPoD?
Is there any chance we can recruit some progressive to run for this seat? Or is the district too conservative for that? Let’s not drop this like we dropped the Kovach race.
People will call it “conservative” as a short hand kind of description. It is clumsy and does not really cover it though.
“Insular” might get closer to the truth. It is down home machine politics of close associations and family histories. They might seem like social conservatives, but the politics are much more practical than ideological. There is a “what’s in it for us?” sentiment.
It would seem more fitting to save this discussion at least a day.
DelawareDem, Hocker doesn’t even live anywhere near Bridgeville. Guarantee it!
I wonder if Matt Opaliski (one time controbutor to the old First State Politics) will give it another go, and is he still IPoD?
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Smitty, on giving it another go this time around, and seeing as it’s going to be a Special Election one would have to be placed into the race by someone representing one of the parties in Sussex County. I haven’t really been in the loop of Sussex Republican Politics for a while, since before the last election.
In the past I have run for that seat on the Republican ticket and the IPoD ticket, in 2002 and 2006 respectively but I have never been a member of the Independent Party of Delaware. In an open election such as a General, anyone could run on any ticket provided they’re willing to satisfy the requirements.
Already covered above but for the 19th Senatorial it would be a Special (some time in August probably), then a General in 2010 followed by another General in 2012 when all 62 members ( and let’s hope it stays @ 62) of the Legislature have to run following the reapportionment (and let’s hope it’s quicker this time around) based on the decennial census.
A few asides to consider …
On Ken McDowell, I don’t see it for the Special. Unless he’s prepared to cut and run from the Elections Department on short notice for a non guarantee of a seat that’s a stretch. Finley Jones is a better bet, and Canada isn’t that far away.
On Dave Wilson, and for the Special anyway maybe he’s willing to have bailed on two posts that he was elected to fill for a specified time halfway through and wouldn’t that be nice.
I could be way off, who knows, and I’ll stop there before I piss everyone off unless this discussion gets a little more interesting.
Matt: YOU just made the conversation more interesting. Very intriguing analysis. ‘Bulo didn’t get the Canada reference, though. Could you please clarify?
Yes, Matt, tell us more.
Finley Jones is probably in Canada as I write this …
If he brings down some fat back, he’s probably in, eh?
Leadership will be, Deluca, Blevins and Henry in that order
Just as an FYI.
McCain carried this district by a 53.75% to 45.22% margin.
“Even worse, Rs are offering nothing to address the problem.”
That won’t matter. Having gone through a special election with a deceased predecessor, “it’s what he would have wanted” resonates for the successor. If that scenario arises, it could change the playing field.
I predict that Senator Adams grandson will be in consideration for the seat if McDowell doesn’t run.
‘Bulo hates to encourage him, but “Republican David” could be right. To the surprise of no one, Adams’ grandson has a job with…the State Senate.
New leadership has been announced (from WDEL):
Well, boys and girls, this goes to show that PROGRESSIVE is still yet a term that makes leadership cringe in fear or loathing.