John Carney Carves A Niche For Himself
John Carney may be the quiet candidate, but he’s quietly carving a niche for himself in the Delaware House race. He’s very strong in environmental issues but he’s been unique in pushing a cancer initiative for Delaware. So I wasn’t surprised when last week I got this press release from Carney’s campaign:
“Just weeks ago, I outlined my intentions as Delaware’s Congressman to seek the assistance of organizations, such as the National Institutes of Health and the Centers for Disease Control, to help identify federal resources to conduct a body burden study and identify the causes of cancer clusters in our state. The purpose of the study is to identify toxins that may have a link to environmental risks in our air, water, and soil which could lead to higher rates of cancer.
Based on the front page stories released by the News Journal this week, possible contaminants in Delaware’s drinking water is yet another reason why we need to do such a study. In light of the significant concerns raised, I believe we need a high level group of experts and community leaders to analyze the existing research and determine what gaps might exist. There currently doesn’t appear to be any one entity looking at all the relevant data. This group could provide a comprehensive analysis and recommend specific actions to help Delawareans avoid any environmental risks and create a level of public trust that their concerns are being addressed.
Carney is referring to the article that came out recently about issues with water quality in Delaware. I know for a fact that many people are scared and worried about their water quality. Have any other candidates discussed this issue or proposed any action?
Mike Castle – Nope
Chris Coons – Nope
Michele Rollins – Nothing
Glen Urquhart – No
So here’s a hot local issue that has a lot of people worried and upset and John Carney is the only politician discussing the problem? I couldn’t even find mention of it on Governor Markell’s website.
Tags: DE-AL, Delaware, John Carney, Water Quality
Worried about water quality? surely you jest. They are worried about Jobs Jobs Jobs.
That is normal americans are, liberals live off the government so they don’t care about jobs.
Oh WOW–he’s makin’ some headway. Reading the front pages now of the News Journal.
So people don’t care about water quality? You should talk to all the people freaking out after they read the NJ’s article then.
Here’s the thing about John Carney–and why I think he’ll be an excellent representative.
The guy was raised in Ashbourne Hills, a working class community. Lotsa people there worked at Phoenix Steel or the oil refinery when he was growing up. If you talk to him for even a few minutes, that has really helped shape who he is.
He’s not some carpetbagger coming to Delaware and setting himself up with some artificially-constructed persona.
He cares about issues like cancer and water quality b/c he understands how they impact everyday people.
He may have lacked the ‘vision’ thing to be Governor, but he sure as bleep doesn’t lack the ‘compassion’ thing to be a strong Congressman.
The thing about the NJ’s articles is that it took Jeff Montgomery more than a year of steady research and digging to get those files that DNREC didn’t want to release or publish. In other words, the officials responsible for our health and water quality knew about it, but just didn’t want to tell anyone.
That’s a pretty damning reflection on whiz kid O’Mara and Markell. It shows that even a year and a half after taking over, they still don’t have control of the institutional bureaucracy whose motto under multiple governors has been “delay and obfuscate.” Either that, or they agreed to cover this stuff up.
Good point, anon. Some bureaucracies, DELDOT comes to mind, have, over the years, done things their own way regardless of what direction the Governor sought to take them in. The bureaucrats figured that they’d outlast the Governor, and they were right.
Having said that, I wouldn’t be surprised if O’Mara turns up the heat after having had a year to figure out just how entrenched and bullheaded the foot draggers are at DNREC. That is my hope, at least.
yeah, that’s what we need a Study and a Blue Ribbon Commission!
(or Blue Ribbon Committee or plain old Study group)
When was the last time a Republican Governor appointed the head of DENREC?????
“When was the last time a Republican Governor appointed the head of DENREC?”
Technically, never, since the acronym is DNREC. Overlooking that, Mike Castle would be the last Republican governor, but John Hughes, appointed by Minner, was the last Republican to head the agency.
She also appointed the Republican Nathan Hayward to head DelDOT. Funny how two of the most “independent” (read: out of control) state agencies ran amok under GOP leaders.