Westhoff Blasts the Delaware Way

Filed in Delaware by on October 4, 2010

Jim Westhoff, the Democratic candidate in the 35th District, issued a press release today blasting Sen. Joe Booth (R-19th) for accepting a job with Sussex Tech as their new public relations official.

Westhoff notes in his release that Booth

will not be teaching, but will be an administrator forging connections with business leaders.

The salary is unknown, because Sussex Tech Superintendent A.J. Lathbury will not release it without a Freedom of Information Act request. According to Westhoff, most of the administrator salaries at Sussex Tech, which has only one school, are in the $100,000 range.

Westhoff points out that no other school district in Sussex County has a full-time PR person, and Sussex Tech has one of the smallest enrollments in the county.

The job itself is fiction. No other school district in Sussex County has a full-time person devoted solely to public relations. Other school districts, that have three times the number of students, do not need a public relations person. With a straight face, Sussex Tech expects us to believe that they need a public relations person.
The superintendent also insults us taxpayers by expecting us to believe that the hiring process was fair and that Booth was the best choice among a large field of candidates. I personally know many public relations professionals in the area who are out of work. I know many former journalists who are also looking for work. But we are expected believe that a man who has never before worked as a public relations professional, who has never worked as a journalist, is the most qualified candidate.

Last month, Westhoff pledged to resign his position with DelDOT if he won his election. He has also said that he will propose legislation banning legislators from holding state government positions. His proposal will not affect the 15 or so current legislators employed by the state.

You can read the full text of his press release at www.jimwesthoff.org.

Now this, ladies and gentlemen, is what we need in the General Assembly. Someone willing to take on the Delaware Way.

About the Author ()

A rabble-rousing bureaucrat living in Sussex County

Comments (19)

Trackback URL | Comments RSS Feed

  1. AQC says:

    Go Westhoff!!!

  2. jason330 says:

    If the world made sense, this would knock Booth out of the race.

  3. Aoine says:

    Bodie can still mount a write in – in his white high heels – its after Labor day now – so they are in

  4. anon says:

    They are not just withholding his salary; they are withholding the source of the funding for the position. From the Cape Gazette article:

    The new position has a one-year term and is primarily grant-funded.

    Booth’s job will include building partnerships with businesses in Sussex County

    Hmmm…

    then this News Journal article:

    District officials refused to discuss Booth’s salary, saying only in a written statement that the job was a “primarily grant-funded position.” They also would not answer questions about the source of the grant funding, directing a reporter to file a Freedom of Information Act request.

    Here’s hoping that FOIA request is on its way.

  5. Blue Coq says:

    Does he get to vote on the state grant that funds his position, or does he recuse himself and ask the other double dippers to vote for the funding?

  6. M.Opaliski says:

    Knock Booth out of what race?

  7. MJ says:

    Too late for a write-in campaign. The Dems dropped the ball on this one. Then again, they didn’t have any credible candidates.

  8. Anon Knows Nothing says:

    Booth sucking at the government teet like all Dems, what a joke. The Delaware GOP has lost all credibility.

    Our Governor is spending considerable time out of state with the DGA while the state does nothing. Markell is a clown.

  9. Larry says:

    Keep an eye on Westhoff he is just a guy who wants another job. I heard Westhoff applied for the sussex Tech job.

  10. Jim Westhoff says:

    Larry,
    What you heard is wrong. I never applied for that job–I never heard about it until I read about the Booth accepting the position.
    Before you repeat rumors, make sure that you’re not being used by someone.
    Jim

  11. Aoine says:

    and remember Booth’s pet is…..Ruth Briggs-King

    hmmmm wonder how many deals they made together – he promoted her to her win last year

    yup – she is his pet

  12. MJ says:

    Once again, AKN lives up to his moniker.

    And Larry, where did you get your information, or are you just a stalking horse for Booth and Wilson, willing to spread lies about a Democratic candidate?

  13. PSB says:

    Go Jim Go!

  14. dv says:

    So when a Republican complains about the school system…..

  15. Jason330 says:

    When the fuck is CRI? Isn’t this the kind of thing that they get all flustered over?

  16. June says:

    Jim is coming up to the PDD meeeting on Wed. 7 p.m. at DelDems. We’re having a small reception for the PDD-endorsed candidates who have taken the time from their busy campaign schedules to stop by. Come on over and meet JIm and give him your support in person.

  17. Jefferson says:

    Go Jim!

  18. Anti-Repubocrats says:

    I am seriously disappointed in Joe. I have known him and his family a long time and I am surprised he would stoop to this. I guess he has been hanging out with the likes of Nancy Wagner, Nick Manolakis, Nancy Cook, John Viola, Anthony Deleacha, John Atkins, and the list goes on. Of course, you hypocrites at Delawareliberal.net continue to support many of these thieves, so you really can’t cry when one of the Republicans does the same thing your worthless candidates do.

  19. Which of the ‘thieves’ that you mentioned do we support?

    Do you have a link to the Brad Bennett alleged DUI? If so, you won’t have to wait long for me to weigh in. I’m not a fan of his, either.