No, he didn’t do anything underhanded, far from it. In fact, by doing the exact opposite, by making this hurried process as democratic as possible, the New Castle County Democratic chair ensured Sheldon’s election. Here’s how.
Despite the few disaffected D’s who envision everything (with at least some merit) as one big conspiracy, Schramm, Daniello, et al, created in almost ad hoc fashion an open process. 400 or so committee persons were eligible to provide input into the process. Contrast that with the phone booth selection of Tom Kovach, which I have yet to see adequately explained by the News-Journal. Was it really three or four people who pulled the trigger on the GOP’s future, or is that present, Harold Stassen? Memo to Tom Kovach: You can’t be Charlie Copeland w/o Copeland’s ill-gotten millions. Perhaps sitting out an election might make you more politically-viable.
But, I digress. Here’s how Sheldon was elected even before the election: 400 committee persons now believe that, even if their choice did not prevail, the process was fair and open. Even Bill Dunn graciously praised the way that the meeting at William Penn HS was handled.
Those 400 committee persons can now in good conscience help get out the vote for Sheldon. What do Flemming & Ross have to counterbalance that?
Also, while I’ve heard that Tim Sheldon was not exactly articulate or galvanizing as a speaker, he got across the most important message that prospective voters, especially prospective D voters like myself, wanted and needed to hear. He says he wants to develop a strong firewall between Paul Clark and the development community. That’s both smart and essential. The best that the Rethugs can do is ‘Why didn’t he say something earlier?’ That does not sound like a winning argument to me.
Plus, the continuing meme that Tom Kovach is an ‘environmental attorney’ will eventually be revealed as the canard that it is. He is an attorney that litigates environmental issues on behalf of one of the country’s longest-standing corporate polluters, the DuPont Company. In other words, he works against environmental progress, not for it. That could well create conflicts-of-interest for Kovach should he become County Council President. Maybe he should explain how he’ll erect a firewall between himself and DuPont and other corporate polluters in New Castle County.
Few people will vote in this Special Election. But, thanks to the open process that Schramm and the Party created, the Democratic grassroots can move ahead, secure at least in the knowledge that their voices were heard. That translates into a solid victory for Sheldon.
For better or for worse, ladies and gentlemen, Tim Sheldon, your new NCC Council President.