PDD President Paul Baumbach files for the 23rd RD.
Now that Representative Terry Schooley has announced that she is not running for reelection…. well before we move on to the race to replace her, I just have to show you this sweet picture of her colleagues applauding Schooley after her announcement.
Picture courtesy of the House Democratic Caucus.
You can see quite clearly that Representatives Heffernan and George are in tears. Terry, you will be missed.
But now to the politics of it, and the race is definitely on to replace her on the Democratic side at least. Paul Baumbach, the President of the Progressive Democrats for Delaware, announced his candidacy here on Delaware Liberal, and officially filed. Here is Baumbach’s statement on his candidacy:
“I would bring the experience, passion, and principles that 23rd District voters demand on important issues. [..] I have deeply held convictions, and will fight for them, while recognizing that success in the General Assembly requires always showing respect to colleagues. [..] I pledge to 1) avoid any negative campaigning during the primary, and 2) support whichever Democratic candidate the voters in the 23rd RD choose on September 11th. I expect that if all such candidates adopt such a pledge, this primary can actually strengthen the winning candidate, and improve our party’s chances of retaining this seat in November.”
Baumbach notes that his experience as a business owner and financial planner is needed in the critical financial deliberations facing the state.
And he has fans here in Idealist and Nancy Willing, respectively:
Back in 2008, when I was still a student at the University of Delaware, Paul was a huge help to our “Students for Obama” group. He offered us his office to use for phone banking and even organized rides up to Philadelphia for our members to do door to door canvassing. Paul will be a very formidable candidate and an even better legislator once he’s elected. He’s an outspoken proponent of progressive causes and his financial advising background offers him an unique perspective on economic issues.
Paul’s leadership during the Newark Charter School fiasco is proof enough of his abilities of persuasive, mature statesmanship. He’s out there ‘on the street’ on the issues and he is extremely electable.
Jerry Grant has also filed his candidacy, and while I do not know him personally, he has his supporters here and in the 23rd. Jerry is the Deputy Chief of Staff of the Democratic Caucus in the House of Representatives, and is a Committee Member in the 23rd RD Committee. Even Paul Baumbach is a fan:
I agree 100% on Jerry’s qualities. I am pleased that the 23rd RD voters have a choice on who they wish to represent them. I am committed to a 100% positive primary campaign, and if the voters choose Jerry on September 11th, he will have my full support in the general election campaign. I consider Jerry a friend, and would like him to consider me a friend on September 12th, whichever way the votes go.
My colleague El Som considers Jerry Grant a true progressive as well as Paul. Thus, we progressives have a genuine win-win situation here, and a golden opportunity for the rare of rarities: a positive campaign about ideas. Full Disclosure time: I work closely with Paul at the Progressive Democrats for Delaware. He has my support. El Som worked closely with Jerry Grant. Jerry has El Som’s support. Neither of us live in the 23rd, but for those of you who do, you have a great choice.
I don’t know either of these gentlemen, but have two questions for their supporters:
Jerry: Why should voters choose yet another state employee, let alone someone who’s an insider at Leg Hall already?
Paul: How does a wealth advisor balance his day job of making the well-off rich with progressive values?
@ SussexWatcher: I didn’t realize all wealth advisors only advised the well-off. Maybe you should try asking serious questions, instead of clearly slanted ones?
SW: Jerry would obviously lose his state job by election, unless you think he intends to act as his own aide.
Tough choice for the voters of RD23. This race will be decided by shoe leather. There’s still a month for others to file. I wouldn’t be surprised to see more candidates.
dogbert: I wasn’t aware that it was against the rules to ask questions. I’m sincerely curious how a wealth manager relates to people without any wealth or assets. I own no stock, don’t have a house, and live paycheck to paycheck. How would a Rep. Baumbach work for my interests when he makes his living advising people far richer than me and those like me? It’s a very legit question.
Geezer: Please don’t be obtuse. The Republicans will seize on this as another example of someone double-dipping, whether he gives up the job or transfers to another state job. And you overlook the insider line of criticism – why should people vote for someone who’s spent a large chunk of his career in Dover?
If y’all can’t defend your candidates better than that, you’re going to have a tough time in November. Inoculate against basic criticism and questions now.
He won’t be double-dipping. He will not serve as both a rep and as an aide.
Actually, the fact that he has done superlative constituent services for Schooley, Kowalko and others is a major plus for him.
Come to think of it, he MAY serve as his own aide, he just won’t get paid for it.
SW made that insipid post last week saying Wilmington is bad because (1) Gov. Terry sent the National Guard there; (2) he likes all those Christian schools in Sussex County more than St. Elizabeth and Padua; etc.
Some of my best friends went to Phillip Showell Elementary School, so I don’t want to patronize SW, but only a downstate dimwit would say that:
* A half-dozen or so years of legislative policy work during a fairly extended life would be an electoral liability.
* Advising people on how to handle and preserve their modest wealth would be an electoral liability.
I think we’ve all known guys like SW. Lifers at the Deerpark?
John Carpart: What I said was that Sussex has never been occupied by the Guard and that we had schools not dependent on the financial stability of a morally corrupted and in some locations financially bankrupt religious institution. I did not espouse a belief that the fundie schools are better than the Catholic ones. I wouldn’t send my kids to either, personally.
As for PB, I eagerly await his stump speech explanning how he helps people below the poverty line who live paycheck to paycheck, and not just well-off DINKs and retires with beach homes avoid taxes.
El Som: Will he be drawing a pension? To many voters, that is double-dipping.
The Rs love to hang the Dover/Washington insider tags on people. If you don’t see how that working as a political operative could be a liability, you’re going to be blindsided.
Instead, Sussex built Coverdale Crossroads so it could shunt its poor folks to live without a housing code.
SW another downstate goodber still justifying Gov. Terry’s racist occupation of Wilmington by the National Guard.
SW dislikes people who have a state job, who run a private business or draw a pension. Jealous loser.
I led my church’s social justice efforts for seven years, including our participation in Newark’s Code Purple program, where on a rotating basis, we opened our doors up to those without shelter on cold, winter nights.
I serve on the board, and finance committee and Cleveland heights redevelopment committee, of the Newark Housing Authority, which provides quality housing to those of limited means. I was appointed by Governor Markell.
I have provided free financial education seminars through the non profit Delaware Money School (championed by then-state treasurer Jack Markell) since its inception ten years ago.
Through my church I have participated in four service trips, including three for Katrina Relief, seeing first hand the devastation, especially in the poorest neighborhoods, and working to improve the situation there.
Don’t know Jerry, met Paul, a few times. Have known Ezra, for over a decade and hope he runs.