Rep. Thornburg Also Retiring, According to Celia
This is also really big news from Celia Cohen. Rep. Pam Thornburg (R-Dover West) also announced her retirement at the same Caucus meeting where Bill Oberle announced his. She will become administrator of the Delaware Farm Bureau, a position from which she will no doubt lobby her former colleagues.
This is huge b/c Thornburg barely won reelection against Trey Paradee in 2008. In fact, the first count showed that Paradee had won, Thornburg congratulated him, but a recount showed that Thornburg had indeed prevailed.
If, as I urged here, Paradee has continued to maintain a visible profile in the district, this seat could likely flip to the D column in 2010. I would strongly encourage Paradee to get moving ASAP to discourage prospective R’s from even considering this race. The secret to winning on the second try is by continuing to run after losing the first time. That doesn’t necessarily mean doing door-to-door in the off year (although that really helps), but in appearing at events, community meetings and the like.
Trey, if you haven’t been doing this, then the clock starts now. You are the de facto incumbent. Do what an incumbent would do, listen to and, as best as possible, represent your constituents. You’re welcome.
As I wrote in April, 2009, when I first profiled this district, the registration #’s are good, not great. Back then, they were 6938 D’s, 5567 R’s, and 4119 I’s. They are now 7192 D’s, 5687 R’s and 4302 I’s, marginally better D numbers, but certainly a highly-competitive district.
If Trey Paradee effectively preempts a Rethug challenger by working hard starting today, he wins. It’s that simple.
Otherwise, whether he runs or not, this will be a real (to borrow a Danny Ozark malapropism) cliff-dweller. Your choice, Trey.
Two of El Somnambulo’s Top 10 targets down, eight to go…
Tags: 2010 Election, Delaware General Assembly, Pam Thornburg, Trey Paradee
It is not a surprise, I hinted at that in your year end thread. She ran the last time for the party. Her heart didn’t seem in the campaign until the last month. In 08, there was a Democrat tide. In 10, there is a Republican tide (how powerful is too early to tell). That changes the calculus.
Pam is a wonderful representative and a great asset.
Wow, Rethug David ‘hinted’ at it this December.
I predicted it last April:
“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.”
But, David, I don’t want to steal ALL your glory. Why don’tcha explain my “You can BANK on it reference” to the cognoscenti? After all, that’s one relationship that Celia hasn’t bothered to tell us about…
add oberle to the retirement list also, he announced last night
sorry didnt see the oberly post that you did
LOL, I have been talking with the likely successor about preparing a campaign since November 08 with popular potential successor. There is a lot that I do not share.
Rethug David doesn’t share his thoughts because they’re all make-believe. RD – you need to wake up and stop living in that fantasy world that you inhabit.
I don’t think that it is a great revelation, but now it is official. I would love to see her run for Congress, but I am all for her enjoying her life. She sacrificed a lot to serve the public. She has earned the right to take whatever course that she chooses.
Rethug David wrote:
“LOL, I have been talking with the likely successor about preparing a campaign since November 08 with popular potential successor. There is a lot that I do not share.”
Intelligent commentary at the very top of the ‘do not share’ list.
I had previously thought that that was due to his inability to articulate intelligently. Now I know he has simply CHOSEN not to share his intelligent thoughts, which no doubt are copious. Guess he’s saving them all for the ‘likely successor’. Or is that the ‘popular potential successor’? Is that the same person, or two different people? Students of linguistics and/or political junkies are dying to know…
Maybe Rethug David was actually just talking to himself and was hearing those voice inside his head again.
“Pam is a wonderful representative and a great asset.”
Pam is a bought and paid for shill for Dover Downs. Ask her about the holiday trip to a swank hotel in Miami for Pammy and her mom that DD paid for a few years back.
I predict nobody will dethrone David as Most Ignorant Man in Delaware in 2010.