Counting down from #5:
5. McDowell in Three-Way Primary in SD 1.
This one is fascinating in so many ways. Long-time incumbent Sen. Harris B. McDowell, III; former long-time State Rep. David Brady; and city resident James Martin have all filed. I consider McDowell the slight favorite, but he’s extremely vulnerable. First, the district itself. It’s a lot different from the district that McDowell has generally run in. The district now extends from NW Wilmington all the way up through Claymont to the Delaware state line. Unless I’ve miscounted, only 10 of 23 election districts in the Senate district are in the city. You can click here, then click on SD 1 (PDF file) to see the new map. There are currently 17,882 Democrats registered in the 1st. While my math skills are admittedly not the best, my rudimentary calculations reveal 6880 of those voters are in the city and 11,002 are from outside the city. Add to that a third primary candidate who lives in the city in James Martin, and you can see why the incumbent senator is anything but secure. Here’s another factor: Neither McDowell nor Brady have ever had what one could call electoral juggernauts when it comes to campaigns. Harris’ campaigns are front-porch campaigns and Dave’s have been kitchen table campaigns. Add in that Charles Potter, who had initially planned to primary Harris until Harris drew him out of the district, just might have reason to ‘cut’ Harris, (which might just explain the Martin candidacy) and you’ve got the makings for a fascinating race. If Brady can scrape the rust off his campaign operation (he last ran in 2002), an upset is quite possible.
4. Wilmington Mayoral Race.
More and more, this looks like a two-person race between Dennis P. Williams and Kevin Kelley. Bill Montgomery never had a chance trying to carry around the baggage from terminally-angry/arrogant incumbent James Baker. And Montgomery did himself no favors by joining Baker in acting in such a condescending manner to those who dared to disagree. The end of his candidacy will be merciful, as the real Bill Montgomery, who is a very nice and thoughtful guy, can resurface. Whether the candidacy lasts until primary day hardly matters. He can’t win. Neither can Bob Bovell nor Scott Spencer. Leaving Williams the favorite and Kelley the viable alternative. To me, the question might ultimately be: Can Williams keep from being his own worst enemy? He has a well-known temper that has already surfaced during the campaign. As in, how dare someone ask about his ongoing tax delinquencies? (Finally paid.) Wilmingtonians have made it pretty clear that they don’t want more arrogant/angry in the Mayor’s office for a fourth consecutive term. Can Williams keep it in check long enough to win the primary? To be determined.
3. Baumbach/Bock/Grant in 23rd.
One person will win. Two will not. Any and all of the three deserve to be in public service. I’m not sure I can ever recall a race like this with three great D’s running. There is no consensus amongst the DL contributors, and there will be no consensus amongst the voters of the 23rd. Bottom line: The voters can’t lose when all the candidates are winners. Man, why can’t I have choices like this?
2. Booth vs. Bodie in SD 19.
So, here’s your choice, Rethugs. Double-dipping ‘establishment’ candidate Joe Booth, Sussex County’s answer to Tony DeLuca, vs. certified teabagger and cross-dresser Eric Bodenweiser. For sheer entertainment value, this should be #1. Bodie challenged Booth last time, and almost won. Booth prevailed, 2157-2037. That was before, the day before, in fact, that Booth accepted a ‘made just for him’ position at Sussex Tech. That was also before the Sussex Republican Party adopted “Let us now worship at the altar of Jeff Christopher” as its motto. There can be little doubt that Bodie is the most fervent Christopher worshiper of the two candidates. What was that Biblical thing about not worshipping false idols? This race will pit the so-called R establishment vs. the crazies. If I had to place a bet right now, I’d bet on the crazies.
1. DeLuca vs. Townsend in SD 11.
This is the Big One. Folks, challenger Bryan Townsend is running a great campaign. Exactly the kind of grassroots campaign that you need to knock off a powerful and entrenched incumbent. As most of you know by now, DeLuca, aided and abetted by former Governor Ruth Ann Minner and Minner COS Mark Brainard, had a job created just for him. Serving both as a Senator and as the ‘Labor Enforcement Chief’ is and was illegal. And DeLuca has basically set his own arbitrary rules when it comes to his ‘enforcement’ responsibilities. Neither Beau Biden nor Gov. Markell have lifted a finger to correct this. In fact, Markell effectively controls DeLuca’s fate concerning both positions, and so, DeLuca has no choice but to push Markell’s agenda without fail. This might be an effective leveraging of power on the part of the Governor, but this continued enabling of DeLuca is cynical and wrong. For those of you who take the time to reread those linked DeLuca posts, you will note that I was optimistic that either Markell or Biden would do something about DeLuca. I was wrong. Fortunately, the voters can now do what our ‘leaders’ wouldn’t do. Replace someone who has abused power and who has worked to stuff his pockets full of filthy lucre with someone who is everything we could ask for in a candidate, meaning someone who will place the needs of his constituents ahead of his own interests. Enthusiastic, hard-working, using up lots of shoe leather, heading up a grassroots campaign, my favorite kind of campaign. Make no mistake: DeLuca will have more money, he will have ‘paid’ volunteers, mostly from unions, he may even have the support of the Governor in order to protect that unholy alliance. But DeLuca has never been an electoral powerhouse, first barely losing to Donna Reed, then barely defeating Donna Reed. Since Townsend is running an excellent campaign, the key will be this: Will the people who claim that DeLuca is unsuited for public office follow through with contributions of money, time and/or shoe leather? If we/they do, there will be a new Senator from the 11th District, and it won’t be Evan Queitsch. Wouldn’t that be cause for celebration?