While President Obama’s strategy of unilateral political disarmament led to the inevitable national resurgence of a most particularly noxious brand of Rethuggery, Delaware proved immune to this trend. I like to think it’s b/c Delaware’s leaders were progressive, visionary ( at least as progressive and visionary as one can be when dealing with the Delaware Way), and, here’s the key word, competent. Nothing advances the progressive cause more than competence.
My list, which includes some notable omissions (there were at least 14 serious candidates, and a total of 24 who I considered), rewards competence, and, in one essential case, rewards and celebrates complete and utter incompetence. This is not the way I set out to make the list, it’s just how it ended up, and I feel real good about it.
My list was reshaped when I went back and read my Pre-Game Previews/Post-Game Reports for the past legislative session. People who I had initially considered for the list, like Beau Biden, were removed from consideration after I brushed off the mental cobwebs and reread my distorted version of history. I also established sort-of a legislative pecking order based solely on this year’s accomplishments. And the suggestions that I solicited impacted not only who made and didn’t make the list, but affected the order as well.
Even with next to no money, important initiatives were enacted statewide, including universal recycling, the ban on cellphone use while driving, the Inspire Scholarships, and several other important pieces of legislation that one could only categorize as ‘enlightened’. The D’s strengthened their hold on state government, which may, or may not, prove to be a good thing. More Petersons and Sokolas, and fewer DeLucas, would be my ideal vision for the future.
The Yearly Disclaimer: This is MY list. I welcome criticism and know that I’m going to get it. Most of all, however, I encourage you to post your own lists. That is all.
And, now, kids, counting down from #10, my 2010 Top 10 MVP’s:
10. Speaker of the House Bob Gilligan: As the leader and symbol of the State House of Representatives, Bob Gilligan saw his majority increase in a terrible year for D’s. But his seminal moment, and the reason that he makes the list, is for standing up to Napoleonic Martinet (copyright pending) Tony DeLuca on the Inspire Scholarship Program. First of all, he prevailed. Almost equally importantly, he revealed Tony DeLuca for the incompetent bully that he is. Tom Sharp may have been a bully, but he was a competent bully. Not DeLuca. No wonder he’s trying to build a fortress around himself. In stark contrast to DeLuca, Speaker Gilligan ran the House in a very competent manner and effectively managed a diverse caucus. Along with Pete Schwartzkopf, he ensured that the House navigated a solid legislative package. And, the political team he brought in actually improved the D majority. Job well done.
9. DNREC Secretary Collin O’Mara: A huge tip of the ‘Bulo sombrero to both TommyWonk and DelawareGreeny for making the case for O’Mara. He’s deservedly on the list thanks to you. In fact, Greeny makes the case better than I ever could:
“I agree with TommyWonk. The kid O’Mara that Gov Markell brought in from California to run DNREC should be on the list. Even in this economy, we seem to have made more progress in the past year than the previous twenty. After all these years, they finally passed statewide recycling. We now have really progressive energy laws and a lot of renewables going up everywhere. And most importantly, they’re finally cleaning up Indian River, Edgemoor, and Claymont Steel and bringing in new green companies like Fisker. Good stuff.”
Can anyone who cares about our environment even make a case that we’re not better off with the California Kid?
8. Lieutenant Governor Matt Denn: With all due respect to John Carney, Matt Denn is already the most effective Lieutenant Governor we’ve had during my time in the Delaware political arena. Even though Matt ran independently instead of on a ticket with either Markell or Carney, Markell and Denn have become a true team. Denn has taken on very challenging tasks, most notably education reform, and has acquitted himself admirably. Like Markell, Denn is adept at developing consensus, even when issues seem intractable. He’s developed a solid working relationship with legislators, another necessity. And he’s still short and funny. What’s not to like?
7. State Senator Karen Peterson: If this annual award takes hold, I’ll seriously consider naming it after Delaware’s Best Progressive Legislator. Karen and Dave Sokola have long been a cause for hope in a caucus traditionally controlled by bullies and Delaware Way sycophants. While Karen didn’t have as many notable legislative accomplishments this year, she did pass legislation eliminating a long-standing conflict-of interest in the AG’s office when it came to deciding whether to represent the people or some corrupt state agency. She also effectively worked more FOIA legislation. She was the prime Senate sponsor for the ban on driving with cellphones. And, she, along with Mike Katz and three like-minded senators, challenged Tony DeLuca for leadership. The odds are against her, but (a) she’s still got a shot and (b) you can bet that she won’t let it drop. Brave and progressive. She’s close to irreplaceable.
6. State Rep. Mike Barbieri: He was very effective in sponsoring and helping to enact improvements and reforms in both DHSS and the Kids’ Department. But he ranks this high for taking on the legislative know-nothings who would substitute their judgment for that of professionals. In this case, I’m talkin’ HB 347. The bill eliminates the unnecessary requirement that school administrators have a “mandatory obligation to report to the police and, in certain instances, initiate criminal prosecution of specific misdemeanor offenses (Assault in the 3rd Degree, Unlawful Sexual Contact in the 3rd Degree, Offensive Touching and Terroristic Threatening) committed by students over the age of 9.” The bill raises the age to 12. Barbieri did not hesitate to push back against the Rethugs who sought to demagogue this bill for political gain (Post-Game Wrap-Up, April 28):
Mike Barbieri’s common-sense bill that eliminates mandatory reporting of school ‘incidents’ involving kids from ages 9-12 barely passed, largely on a party line vote. In other words, those voting ‘no’, or going ‘not voting’ would substitute their judgment that administrators must report every incident to the police over the professional judgment of the school administrators. Rep. Barbieri asks the logical question in J. L. Miller’s News-Journal report:
“If it is serious, the school administration will deal with it. If they’re not [serious offenses], then why bring it to the criminal level?” Barbieri asked.
“How many times have you seen two 9-year-olds pushing each other and you called the police?” he asked.”
Uh, never. Which was his point. Beaucoups de Bonus Points for defeating Terry Spence this November despite the Progressive Democrats of Delaware failure to endorse this essential progressive legislator.
5. State Senator Dave Sokola: He’s been such a good senator and solid progressive for so long that we tend to forget just how important he is. Maybe it’s because he doesn’t grandstand, but just gets things done. Which means it’s my job to toot his horn for him. His singular accomplishment this year, by all insider accounts, is helping to get statewide recycling enacted into law. While he was not the prime sponsor of the bill, he, more than any Senator, worked tirelessly to craft an effective piece of legislation that could pass. And that’s Dave’s MO, a serious legislator who seeks to master a subject in order to pass the best legislation possible. He and State Rep. Terry Schooley have had the arduous task of tackling education reform. Both are competent and detail-oriented so, if there’s to be any chance of getting it right, they’ll be the ones to figure it out. Dave Sokola is also proof that you don’t have to sacrifice your progressive principles to keep getting elected, even in a district not teeming with rampant progressivism.
4. State Rep. Darryl Scott: One of the finest legislative years in recent memory by any state legislator. How’s this for a twothreefer?:
The Cellphone Ban While Driving Bill-Enacted Into Law (prime Senate sponsor? Karen Peterson. Why am I not surprised?)
Ban On a Particularly Devastating Health Insurance Company Trick-Enacted Into Law
The Inspire Scholarship Program-Enacted Into Law, no thanks to Senators DeLuca or Blevins.
That’s not a good year, that’s a CAREER! And, this first-term Kent County D won reelection despite a battle-tested challenger and the downstate Rethug Red Tide. Ladies and gentlemen,Darryl Scott-the 2010 State Legislator of the Year.
3. Gov. Jack Markell: It’s official. He’s already the best governor I’ve seen since I started working in Dover. I remember Bert Carvel as being a superb governor, and Jack’s right there with him. He’s got vision, but vision means nothing without the ability to get things done. Competence is essential for progressive policies to flourish. Markell’s environmental legacy is already secure. I can’t think of anyone I’d rather have to steer the ship of state in these uncertain economic times. He has helped to open up our government and to end discrimination where it exists. He has brought in highly capable people of both parties to perform outstanding public service. No wonder that he’s earned national attention. Progressive and competent. I don’t think you can improve on that.
2. United States Senator Ted Kaufman: By far the best decision Ruth Ann Minner ever made. Of course, the decision was forced on her by Joe Biden to presumably ensure a timely coronation for the Beaudhisatva. Ted Kaufman became the single best advocate for regulatory reform in the United States Senate. While the final package was not near what I would have hoped, it would have been far worse w/o Kaufman’s well-researched and brilliantly argued case. Kaufman also stood with the most progressive of senators on virtually every issue. AKA, the Anti-Carper. There simply HAS to be a role for this man in government. Could you imagine the apoplexy that the David Swayzes of this world would have if he assumed a role as regulatory czar in Delaware? Sadly, it’s unlikely it’ll be in Washington as Obama appears to be striving for Clintonian triangulation (aka ‘Screw the Liberals’). Until September, I was convinced that Sen. Kaufman would be my 2010 MVP. And he is 2010’s Most Valuable Progressive. However, when it comes to being the Most Valuable for the Progressive Cause, he’s a mere piker standing in the not-insubstantial shadow of…
1. Christine O’Donnell: Hmmm, let me enumerate just a few of her contributions to our cause. (1) Got rid of top R vote getter Mike Castle. (2) Significantly diminished R turnout upstate (3) Helped ensure continued D control of the US Senate by making herself unelectable. (4) Left the Rethug Party an absolute shambles, which is where it remains today. (5) Helped elect Chip Flowers State Treasurer. (6) Helped D’s pad their margin in the State House of Reps. (7) By so doing, she helped vulnerable progressives like Dennis E. Williams, Mike Barbieri, and Darryl Scott get reelected, and almost singlehandedly enabled Deb Heffernan to defeat Ms. Man-Pants’ fellow teabagger, Tom Kovach. Best of all? She’s not going anywhere! Narcissists like O’Donnell and Palin are influenced far more by reality programming than by reality. They are the political equivalent to that Kate Gosselin, who I still don’t know why she’s famous. Dorothy Parker, I think, once coined the term ‘famous for being famous’. That’s O’Donnell, and, like Palin, you can bet that she won’t willingly leave the limelight. Not only is she El Somnambulo’s 2010 MVP, she has the kind of staying power that I fully embrace!
I also gave consideration to the following before having to winnow my list to 10. In alphabetical order:
Beau Biden, Chris Coons, Bruce Ennis, Melanie George, Debra Heffernan, J. J. Johnson, Michael Katz, Helene Keeley, John Kowalko, Alan Levin, Terry Schooley, Pete Schwartzkopf, Jim Westhoff, Dennis P. Williams.