How Erik Schramm Elected Tim Sheldon NCC Council President
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.
Tags: Tim Sheldon; Tom Kovach; 2010 Election; New Castle County; Erik Schramm;
Nice analysis El Som. When are you going to be on with Al again?
Good point about the Republican reaction to Sheldon’s statement. They have essentially said “Good idea.” And the response to “why didn’t he say something sooner?” should be obvious — what kind of moron would pick a fight with the next county exec? Proceeding slowly and cautiously certainly hasn’t ruined Chris Coons’ political career, has it?
Charlie Copeland has “ill-gotten” millions????? What a small-minded, petty comment with no basis whatsoever.
“What a small-minded, petty comment with no basis whatsoever.”
Right. Talk like that could ruin the civil discourse so common on the internets.
Auntie Dem: Al says I have to ‘dress better for radio’. Guess the PJ thing was ill-considered.
As to Charlie ‘Bouvier de Flanders’ Copeland, he inherited his millions (not to mention that Wilmington Trust bailed out his family from a major bankruptcy, making that inheritance possible) and has spent his $$’s on trying to prevent the government from taxing them. I consider that to be ill-gotten.
Wilmington Trust decided that the Copeland family was ‘too big to fail’.
The Copeland family did not return the favor to Wilmington Trust. No doubt, there’s no room for sentimentality in business. Except when it’s lining the pockets of the Billionaires On The Hill. Or saving their pampered butts from actually having to earn a living.
There’s a good video segment after the vote with Tim Sheldon over at WDEL. He’s a brick-layer by trade and he kinda talks like one, but he might just be the guy help define the ethical bounderies for the new NCCE.
Congratulations to Tim.
I don’t get the attacks on Charlie Copeland but I agree the GOP response was weak. The issues they bring up have been around for years with out a dedicated GOP response. In fact the GOP did not run anyone for NCC Exec or Pres in 2008.
The process for selection, let me know if you want more.
Have a great day.
Mike Protack
I responded to the how dare I mention ‘ill-gotten millions’ remark from Publius. Kovach is in danger of becoming Copeland, i. e., a guy who’ll run for any office at the drop of a chapeau…except that Kovach doesn’t have the ‘ill-gotten’ millions to fund a series of candidacies. Which means he must rely on the Billionaires on the Hill. Which means that he will do their bidding if elected.
The Republicans have been demanding self-funding candidates for several years now, going back to the first Clatworthy run if not before. (It won’t be an issue in a special election, which you’ll notice is the only kind the GOP has won for quite a while now.)
I asked on another thread a couple of days ago who was going to supply the money for this new, ultraconservative, regular-folks GOP the bomb-throwers have been touting for more than a decade. Crickets.
John Kowalko,
Do you have any insight on Kovak in you dealings with Dupont over their toxic waste.
http://delawareliberal.net//2010/07/31/kowalko-addresses-toxic-chemical-reform/
Here is the video interview of Tim Sheldon at WDEL that Boxwood references.
El Som, Calling Kovach an “environmental attorney” is on a par with Delaware Today calling Mike Parkowski an “environmental attorney” in its latest Suck up to the Status Quo issue. He is standing next to a wetland with his black lab, wearing a shirt and tie. The wetland should be very afraid.
Great post. Since Delaware is now a one party state, it behooves up to make our conventions and primaries 100% transparent.
What was that line from ‘Young Frankenstein’? ‘Horses rear at the mention of Frau Blucher’s name’? Fishes die at the mere whisper of the Parkowski monicker.
I honestly have never understood how people who make their living like that can look themselves in the mirror.
Kavips,
Tom Kovach was not thrilled, at all, with my House Bill 252 (144th GA) that I had introduced which would have basically forced a removal of Dupont’s “Dioxin pile” neither was Dupont nor DNREC (under its old leadership). The fact is Tom Kovach is not a bad person at all, but his “environmental credentials” are as a lawyer “for” Dupont on eco-issues not promoting enviro-justice or responsibility. An honest, non-personal assessment of Tom’s environmental standing would be to not place him in the plus or neutral column (pro-environment) and that doesn’t leave to many other columns to put him in. My personal experience and take on Tom is that I would not presume to count him as an ally in any battle environmnent vs.business (especially Dupont)
John Kowalko
Wow–I didn’t know Kovach was in the 144th!?! Strange, since he was elected in December 2008… (2009-2010 was the 145th G.A.) Well, Kowalko must have had a “feeling” that Kovach would, had he been in office then, that would have been “not thrilled, at all”… I’d place that square in the inaccurate column (or “Kowalko” column).
Instead of attacking Kovach based on his employer, why not look at his environmental record in the G.A.? (in the 145th, by the way)
Did he support environmental initiatives & bills or not?
Did he support recycling? Did he sponsor it? Was he one of 3 Republicans to vote for it?
Did he support Green Jobs Act of 2010 (4 bills)? Did he sponsor 3 of 4 bills? Did he vote for 4?
Did he support fish kill Resolution?
In fact, what environmental bill did Kovach not support (being the big bad environmental attorney)? If there is one, call him out on it in the context of his entire record.
Ask DNREC (or O’Mara). Ask DNS. Ask Clean Air Council. Ask anyone who actually knows–or you might try relying on facts.
Or, you can stick with what is easy and just guess or simply make stuff up.
Dumbass.
Got it. Ignore the (literal and figurative) elephant in the room by ignoring the fact that Kovach MAKES HIS LIVING litigating environmental issues for a serial polluter of a company.
How could I have been so stupid?
BTW, maybe it’s just me, but that comment had a familiar Eau de Burrito about it.
Nope. Wasn’t me. I’m banned.
Besides, if it was me, I’d have added that the Tom Kovach you’d like to paint as an evil anti-enviromentalist used to be an ENFORCEMENT officer for the EPA.
But whoever that was, they pwned you pretty bad.
Eco-hero or eco-villain? He is a Republican isn’t he? That tells you all you need to know about who he would be working for if he got elected.
Yep, Burrito, Jr., you really got me. A former EPA agent going to work for a serial polluter is like…a former congressman reaping millions on K Street as a lobbyist.
I just can’t keep pace with your superior intellect.
I’ve never, in any way, suggested that Tom was an eco-terrorist or villain bent on destroying any part of the environment. I did however discuss my Hazardous Waste Bill with him to see if I could gather bipartisan support for the measure if I were to reintroduce it and he was not warm to the thought. The question was asked of me (as I interpreted it) would I be confident in Mr. Kovach as an ally for the interests of the environment if that position would put him at odds with Dupont. My honest opinion is that I would not feel very confident and that can be interpreted any way you wish.I am confident in my judgment from my observations and discussions with Tom. I personally like Tom but if anyone wishes to interpret that as my endorsement of his pro-enviro. credentials than they are missing the point.
John Kowalko
Oh bye the bye Eau de Burrito, I can name you a half-dozen former EPA, DNREC, PSC oficials and staffers whose institutional knowledge and allegiance has been purchased by corporate interests and industries. Do you think those corporations would stay successful at compromising their obligation to the health and welfare of the people and the planet if they limited themselves to a hiring universe of fresh-faced and inexperienced college grads. They may be greedy, insensitive and unfeeling but they are not stupid. Time to wake up and smell the sulphur.
John Kowalko
Don’t know Tim yet, but good thing you cut Bill Dunn loose. Can’t even imagine him winning any crowds over. Always found him to be crass and heavy-handed. The picture posted was a real clean-up job.Looking forward to meeting Tim.
No one would believe that the anony cowboy from NCC who’s willing to knock Bill Dunn so superficially doesn’t know Timmy Sheldon pretty damn well.
Good feedback, John, on Tom Kovach and his professional loyalties. Where one gets the feeling that El Som is reaching, you are giving some direct information that I can use in making up my mind between the two candidates.
And thanks La Narc for the tip on the Parkowski mention in DE Today. Parkowski was behind the insane Assembly bill sponsored by AG Bureau-member reps Walls and Johnson to completely gut the tidal wetlands protection language in our state code last session.
The bill was a product of lobbyist Parkowski’s having bought a bunch of tidal wetland bayfront lots he wanted to sell.
In order to sell for development he had to get a deal with DNREC to carve out his property from the area’s wetlands maps.
As far as what Colin O,Mara told me at the time, the bill was killed because DNREC agreed to the Parkowski deal at a sit down. The carve out is supposed to have been handled in an open and transparent way with a public hearing etc. but I never heard anything more about it.
The supposed buyer of Parkowski’s waterfront was the DelPointe developer and Sussex Land Trust director whose name escapes me.
Kowalko – Sounds kind of like agreeing to look the other way on tens of millions in present and future environmental damage to get jobs back at that filthy Valero plant. Anybody here “compromise their obligation to the health and welfare of the people” on that one? Or maybe, like just about everything, it’s just not black and white?
Glass houses, ladies & gents. Glass houses.
By the way, why are you guys arguing about Kovach’s enviro bona fides in an election for a position that has little in the way of pollution control? You all know he is extremely competent and would be a solid and necessary check and balance on Clark and his allies.
I’ll respect my DL ban and go away now. I’ll be posting stuff at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Dave-Burris/143338329050674 if you need me.
El Burritto,
Yes we should have a lengthier conversation some other time (family obligations rest of week) but you do make one very salient point “it’s not just black and white” I don’t think environmental/economic/jobs intersections will ever be black and white unfortunately. That’s the task that we face to blend a multitude of interests without favoring any one interest for personal motives.
John K.
Nancy, you are right on about the gut-the-wetlands bill – it was on a fast track to pass, Gilligan was waiting for it with open arms. It set a new rock-bottom standard for sleaziness. In order to save one of Delaware’s few significant environmental laws, DNREC had to hold its nose and pretend these properties weren’t wetlands. One of many unwritten stories that needed a whiff of sunshine disinfectant.
It is funny to imagine Dave arguing for the election of a Democrat in order to provide balance to some largely Republican governmental body.