Andrew Staton, a Rehoboth Beach realtor and chairman of the 14th District Democratic Committee, announced today on his Facebook page that he is “considering a run for the new State Senate Seat covering Dewey, Rehoboth, Lewes, and Milton.” Joan Deaver and Pete Schwartzkopf have decided to skip the race and remain in their current respective positions, and have given Staton the nod to go ahead with his own campaign.
For those upstate that don’t know Andy, he arrived in Delaware in 2003 to pursue his real estate career, and co-founded the Beach to Bay Real Estate Center. Prior to relocating to Delaware, Station was a management consultant at Booz Allen Hamilton in Washington, D.C., and was an assistant to then-Delegate (now Supreme Court Justice) William C. Mims in Virginia. He received his Bachelors degree in Political Science from Longwood University and a Masters degree in Business and Technology Management from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, and is a certified real estate auctioneer. He also serves on the Delaware Real Estate Commission, the Sussex County Association of Realtors Government Affairs Committee, the Beebe Medical Center Advisory Board, and the Sussex County YMCA Board of Governors. Most recently, he was appointed by Governor Markell to the Delaware Economic and Financial Advisory Council (DEFAC).
He is also a fitness and weight loss advocate, and has recently established a Foundation to fund training and education programs that focus on the prevention of childhood obesity. The fight against obesity is a personal one for Staton, as Staton himself has lost approximately 150 pounds after having once weighed over 300. Staton’s weight loss and fitness story has been featured a number of media outlets, including the News Journal, Men’s Health magazine, Ironman.com, Genre Magazine, Men’s Health Book: Men’s Guide to Fitness, Health, Weight Loss, and Nutrition, and the Cape Gazette.
What remains to be seen is whether Senator David McBride (D-13th), a resident of the newly created 6th district, will switch districts so that he actually represents the district in which he lives.
Once he declares his campain, we look forward to sit down with Staton to discuss the issues.