Delaware Political Weekly: July 21-27, 2012

A little bit late, but worth the wait. Technical difficulties can only defer, not deter, your intrepid wordsmith.

1. Tony DeLuca’s A Big Fat Liar.

So, I’m at the Townsend house, waiting to head on out to campaign. I decide to spend some time perusing Tony DeLuca’s ‘puppy piece’. I come across this line listed under the ‘Dedicated’ subheading:

(Tony DeLuca…) “Supported SEED and Inspire scholarships for Delaware students”.

That’s what it said. On a 3″ by 9″ (or so) palm card, Senator Tony DeLuca claims this as one of his key accomplishments. I got to thinking, waitaminnit, wasn’t he the guy who tried to KILL the Inspire Scholarship Program? My memory not being the best, I decided to climb into the Notsowayback Machine. Here are two stories we posted back from 2010:

Tony DeLuca Has Disgraced His Office. Markell MUST Call Senate Back. (July 2, 2010)

Disgraced DeLuca To Call Senate Back. (July 3, 2010).

For those not predisposed to read these pieces, (and you should, they’re a couple of my favorites,) let me give you the short version via the News-Journal:

… at about 10 p.m. Wednesday (July 30, 2010), House Democrats sent the Senate its “must list,” a document each chamber sends to the other to request votes on bills needed before the close of the session. It contained one bill, the Inspire Scholarship (HB 399).

It became clear at 1:30 a.m. Thursday that there was a problem with the legislation. Speaker Bob Gilligan left the House chamber and walked over to the Senate chamber, where lawmakers worked on routine bills. The House speaker’s unusual presence in the Senate chamber caused whispers among staffers as Gilligan stood at DeLuca’s desk. The two then walked into a back room. Five minutes later, Gilligan emerged and stormed across the building, ripping open the House chamber doors and returning to his seat. At 1:46 a.m., the Senate adjourned for the year. Sen. Patricia Blevins, D-Elsmere, said it was too late to stick around and debate the bill. “We’re tired,” Blevins said shortly after adjournment.

So, because DeLuca, his ‘assistant’,  and Patti Blevins were ‘too tired’, the Senate adjourned. Two days later, under withering political pressure, DeLuca relented and agreed to bring the Senate back.

And now, Tony DeLuca touts this as a legislative accomplishment. Here’s where only a tiny kernel of truth leads DeLuca to lie about his involvement: Once the Senate finally reconvened to consider the bill, DeLuca voted yes. As did every other member of the Delaware State Senate. What he doesn’t mention is that he adjourned the 145th Session of the Delaware General Assembly with the belief that he had killed the bill, just like he intended.

Which raises the question: Is Tiny Tony’s list of accomplishments so miniscule that he has to lie about something as blatantly obvious as this? Or is he simply incapable of telling the truth? I don’t know, and I don’t care, especially when this guy is the alternative. A stranger-than-fiction postscript. DeLuca has just put out his glossy “Report To the People of the 11th District” and he restates this claim. Someone even got the Delaware State University President to appear in a photo with the Napoleonic Martinet. Most uncomfortable interracial pairing since Richard Nixon and Sammy Davis, Jr.

2. Paul Clark’s Very Bad Week.

First, the State AFL-CIO endorses Tom Gordon for New Castle County Executive. This is one race where such an endorsement might make a difference. Especially to the extent that the endorsement mirrors county worker dissatisfaction with their putative boss. For those folks, voting against incumbent Clark is a tangible means to improve their lot, not merely a theoretical one. If their distaste for Clark motivates them to vote, Clark’s gonna have to find a lot of motivated voters to offset them. There ain’t that many county executive assistants and/or developers in New Castle County to do that.

Speaking of executive assistants, it’s time for some legal authority to investigate whether there is any clear distinction between Clark’s executive team and his reelection campaign. It’s also time for the News-Journal to submit a FOIA request for the work records of Clark and his executive assistants. This excellent story in the News-Journal points out why. The ever-diplomatic John Flaherty raises the proper question:

Clark’s campaign opponents – as well as John Flaherty, president of Delaware Coalition for Open Government – said Reilly’s dual roles creates the appearance of impropriety.

“Hired for $107,000 one month and the head of his campaign finance committee [in May]?” Flaherty said. “Doesn’t smell right. It looks like the taxpayers are funding his campaign. If she’s worth that much, let his campaign pay her.”

You see, the other ‘executive assistants’, many of whom have loads of political experience as candidates, campaign managers, or both, earn $40,000 less than Reilly. What ever does she bring to the table that makes her worth so much more? Couldn’t have anything to do with raising funds for the campaign, now could it? Especially since the article emphasizes how she is in a governmental position to help or hinder certain projects while raising campaign cash for her boss. It’s a blatant pay-to-play scheme, and is, at the least, highly unethical. Especially since the taxpayers are holding the bag for Clark’s bagperson.

BTW, Clark claims that his campaign is being run out of his house as he has no headquarters. Time for someone with legal authority to make sure that the campaign isn’t, in essence, being run out of the County Government Center. Paul, you’re an open government guy. Release the work records of your executive assistants.

My only quibble with the article is the headline itself (generally not written by the reporter but, considering the state of the News-Journal these days, who can be sure?):

Assistant Straddles Thin Line for Clark

The thin line is in the rear view mirror. If it can still be seen at all.

3. Calling All Spies!

Especially those of you in Kent and Sussex Counties. I can’t keep track of the political doings down there as much as I’d like to. Please let me and the readers know what’s happening. Not unsourced rumors, but, you know, real stuff. Thanks!

That’s it for this week. What did I miss and whaddayathink?