1. Primary For Insurance Commissioner Getting Crowded
Paul J. Gallagher of Hockessin joined the Democratic primary for insurance commissioner this week. He is the third filed candidate for the position, with incumbent IC Karen Weldin Stewart and challenger Mitch Crane already having filed. Gallagher has worked as an independent agent in the insurance industry for 30 years, Here is his website. I found this interesting:
While holding leadership positions in the industry, Paul often visited Washington, D.C. meeting with Joe Biden, Tom Carper, and Bill Roth to discuss and advocate important insurance issues affecting Delaware.
Would be nice to know what those important insurance issues were…
I know I’m stating the obvious here, and this is not necessarily aimed at Gallagher, since yet other candidates are rumored to be in the wings. However, if one’s purpose is to get the profoundly-unqualified Karen Weldin Stewart out of the IC’s office, the best way not to do it is to have multiple opponents running in a primary against her. Conversely, splitting the votes of dissatisfied primary voters is the one way to enable an otherwise dead-in-the-water incumbent to survive.
So, I ask this question in all sincerity, and I’d like to hear from Gallagher’s supporters and from Gallagher himself: Why is Paul Gallagher the best candidate for Insurance Commissioner?
I’m serious, and I’d like to hear that perspective.
2. Dems Get Good Candidate for New 20th RD?
Looks that way. Marie Mayor has filed to seek the seat in this Milton-area district, which previously was a Pike Creek District in New Castle County represented by Nick Manolakos. Mayor is the President of the Delaware Agritourism Association, and is a partner in Milton’s Lavender Fields Farm. Here’s an article that quotes her. And, of course, a musical interlude:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KCEcm2dFvoA[/youtube]
‘Approaching Lavender’-Gordon Lightfoot
3. Bryan Townsend Interviews With DL
I know a lot of party political types enjoy this site and/or at least tolerate it b/c we do bring something to the table. If you are one of those types, and have not yet had the opportunity to hear our interview with Bryan Townsend, please avail yourself of the opportunity. He is running a serious campaign, has been attending civic association meetings for over six months, and has a real chance to defeat incumbent Sen. Tony DeLuca. That would be, to put it mildly, a huge upgrade, and would put ethically-challenged politicians throughout the state on notice that it’s not back-room business as usual. Plus, just listen to the interview. Wouldn’t you want someone like Townsend as your State Senator?
4. Can Someone Set Me Straight On that Kevin Wade Commercial?
Kevin Wade, or more specifically, a PAC supporting Kevin Wade, or more specifically, a PAC ‘not affiliated’ with Kevin Wade or any other candidate, has been running a commercial on WDEL that mentions Kevin Wade’s name something like seven times, and states that ‘we need’ Kevin Wade in Washington. I thought that PAC ads could not mention the name of candidates they were supporting, and could not specifically endorse said candidates, but could only run ‘issue-oriented’ ads. Could an attorney who may have heard this spot please tell me why this ad is legal?
5. State Rep. Don Blakey Gets D Challenger
34th District State Rep. Don Blakey (R-Dover) has a challenger. And, in typical Delaware fashion, it could be a Delaware State vs. a Del-Tech matchup. Theodore M. Yacucci, Sr., has filed as a Democrat to challenge Blakey. Yacucci hails from Camden-Wyoming, and appears to be employed as a ‘manager’ at the Terry Campus of Del-Tech, according to several links. Blakey is a ‘visiting professor’ at Delaware State University. Since he lives in Dover, doesn’t take him long to ‘visit’ there. Either way, the issue appears: Who will get that vital second state check every month? And who has the most pull with the money committees in the General Assembly?
6. Filings, We Have Filings
State Rep. John Kowalko (D-25th); Wilmington Mayoral Candidate Bill Montgomery (the only filed mayoral candidate so far); the aforementioned Blakey and Yacucci; and incumbent State Rep. Harold Peterman (R-33rd) have joined the fray this week. I have also yet to mention that three candidates have filed for Kent County Levy Court, about whom I admit to knowing next to nothing: Democrats Brooks Banta and Allan Angel (could he be one-half of the ‘Celestial Bodies’ tag team with Ron Poliquin?), and Republican Kevin McCarthy.
That’s it for this week. What’d I miss, and whaddayathink?