He is speaking on the House floor right now, announcing his decision not to run again.
Here are quotes I am getting from his speech from my mole in the GA:
“going to Dover Behavorial Health Center.”
“No magic pill, only self determination.”
“I feel very blessed and lucky”
::He’s choked up at this point, apologizing and crying:::
“I hope I can insure that the 32nd will not be without representation for the rest of the session.”
“I will not seek reelection, I will focus on my family.”
This is not unexpected. The man has a drinking problem, evidenced by two DUI arrests over three years. Given his latest arrest, where he crashedinto a police car, he just could not run again, and if he did, he would lose the seat.
I listened to his speech online (so thankful for technology!). Interesting that they will allow him to continue to serve for the remainder of the term. Let’s see what happens now …
The end of the term is, for all intents and purposes, June 30. That is the end of the session. Then the legislators are all running for election.
So there is no time to find a replacement anyway, so why not let him serve out the term.
So who is the Dem in the wings?
I will be curious to learn that as well.
“Interesting that they will allow him to continue to serve for the remainder of the term.”
What do you mean by “allow him”? No legislator has ever been removed from office for DUI.
If disgraced judges can serve out their term, why not legislators?
It is the Delaware Way.
If he were to resign now, the 32nd would effectively be w/o representation through the month of June.
Which, in effect, is what they were during the month of May.
There are timelines for special elections, and you couldn’t effectively even have a special election by then.
And there’s little point in holding a special election after June since the General Assembly wouldn’t meet.
Of course, if the extra service time yields Bennett a pension, then I’d say that he should step down after session, but I don’t think that’s the case.
Is the Abby Betts who runs the Kent Dems the same Abby Betts who works for Markell?
What a shame…Beth Miller who lost to him, would have been an incredible pick to look after the business of the 32nd, and not bring on the continued distractions that have plagued Mr. Bennett. Too bad the voters didn’t see it that way. Anyway, best of luck to Mr. Bennett–it can’t be easy dealing w/ your demons under public scrutiny.
Ha. That’s a good one.
Pingback: General Assembly Post-Game Wrap-Up/Pre-Game Show, Weds., June 6, 2012 : Delaware Liberal