Paul Clark has come in for a lot of criticism during his tenure as New Castle County Council President for being too friendly to the developer community. With the election of Chris Coons to the U.S. Senate, Paul Clark has the opportunity to raise his profile in the county and make a first impression on most voters. So what does he do?
New Castle County Council President Paul Clark has tapped Vince Meconi and Mark Brainard – two controversial figures in the Minner administration – to assist his transition into the county’s executive office.
Gov. Ruth Ann Minner appointed Meconi secretary of the Delaware Department of Health and Social Services in 2001. He spent the last two years of her administration staving off bipartisan calls to resign after The News Journal detailed allegations of abuse and neglect at the Delaware Psychiatric Center under his watch.
In January, Meconi finished a consulting job for Gov. Jack Markell, assisting the governor with federal economic stimulus programs, a spokesman said. Meconi did not return a call seeking comment.
The News Journal reported in May that Brainard, Minner’s former chief of staff, helped orchestrate a 66-year “sweetheart” land deal in Milford for N.K.S. Distributors Inc. that the Department of Justice is now trying to undo and the Federal Highway Administration is investigating.
So I guess our first impression was pretty much right, then? It’s going to be a long 2 years in New Castle County government, I think.