Delaware Political Weekly: July 28-August 3, 2012
1. Keith Spanarelli Finally Surfaces.
And on the surface, he could, could, be a reasonable alternative to Tom Carper. Sure as bleep wish that these guys could avoid typos in their campaign announcements, though. Anyway, here is the official announcement of Spanarelli’s run for office. And here’s his bio. For all that was said, in quite a flowery manner, I might add, there’s a lot left unsaid. What’s of keen interest, at least to me, is that his proposed transparency would prove…intriguing, to say the least:
The American people like to see; like to view what it is they’re paying for. So I will be placing in my Senate office a live television camera (KSPAN) to broadcast the meetings with the who’s who of the special interest lobbies, corporate heads and banking officials… anyone who believes in blank check-book power pedaling. Think 60 Minutes and Mike Wallace. A place where there is a hot seat of accountability.
I like that, I really like that. It’s awfully late in the game, but I’d love to see Spanarelli publicly challenge Carper to match his pledge. Might at least force Carper to have to defend himself for once. You know, “I represent the people, and the people have a right to know what I’m doing. Tom, who do you represent? Prove it. Let us see for ourselves.”
2. Williams Taking Control of Wilmington Mayoral Race?
Signs (literally and figuratively) point to ‘yes’. This week, the black clergy (20 in all) endorsed Williams. This followed previous endorsements by the Fraternal Order of Police and Wilmington firefighters. A recent drive around the Broom Street/Baynard Boulevard area revealed not only a lot of Williams signs, but many lawns sporting both Williams signs and/or Gordon and Potter signs. Meaning that Williams has, at the least, developed synergies and perhaps working alliances with these candidates. The Montgomery campaign appears to have become dependent on former Republicans (Hal Haskell? Really?), and I’m not sure what’s happened to the Kelley campaign, which had lots of energy a couple of months back. All I see is that, in the case of Williams, the trend is his friend, and that’s not the case for the only other electable candidates. Yeah, yeah, I know, ‘endorsements don’t vote’, but many of the endorsees do, and they talk to a lot of people who do. To me, the math seems obvious. If both Montgomery and Kelley stay in the race, Williams will almost assuredly win. And, yes, race plays a part in that, let’s be honest here, but it’s only one part. Williams is the only one of the three who has expanded his appeal beyond his geographical home base. Montgomery still has the the upper-middle class Trolley Square yuppies and that area’s Irish D’s, and Kelley has the Browntown/Hedgeville blue collar voters. I don’t know which of the two is likely to come in second. Doesn’t matter. Only first place counts. If you think I’m wrong, bring it!
3. Gordon Taking Control of County Executive Race?
I’m inclined to think so. This is one case where the AFL-CIO endorsement helps. I think that, in part, it reflects dissatisfaction amongst county employees who swallowed a 2.5% pay cut while Paul Clark was adding on an army of ‘executive assistants’, at least one of whom also acts as his chief fundraiser while deciding which projects move forward and which ones don’t. So Clark now has 14 executive assistants, almost all of them with extensive political experience. I’ve concluded, however, that there’s one thing Clark doesn’t have: a constituency. Think about it. I have. Who, other than executive assistants, developers, and maybe a couple of county council members, would be motivated to vote and/or campaign for Paul Clark? For all of his well-deserved negatives, Tom Gordon indeed has constituencies within the Democratic Party and numerous people who will vote for him. While I won’t be one of them (I’m leaning towards Shahan by the process of elimination), neither of the other two candidates have gained any traction nor appear to have any visibility. Since the Clark campaign has come across as politically tone-deaf (h/t to Nancy Willing), heavy-handed and amateurish, I’m hard-pressed to see how Clark tops Gordon in the primary. If you think I’m wrong, bring it!
4. Hmmm. This Seems Misleading.
Did I miss something? Has Pete Schwartzkopf suddenly ‘unendorsed’ Andy Staton in the 6th SD? Has Jack Markell come out with an endorsement for Bob Frederick? I don’t think so. But, check out what the Friends of Bob Frederick posted in the Cape Gazette. Something tells me that neither Schwartzkopf nor Markell are gonna allow the deliberate misimpressions created by this ‘story’ to stand.
That’s it for this week. What did I miss and whaddayathink?
Tags: Andy Staton Delaware, Bill Montgomery Delaware, Bill Shahan Delaware, Bob Frederick Delaware, Dennis P. Williams Delaware, El Somnambulo, Keith Spanarelli, Kevin Kelley Delaware, Paul Clark Delaware, Pete Schwartzkopf Delaware, Sen. Tom Carper Delaware, Steve Tanzer Delaware, Tom Gordon Delaware
I wonder if Markell is hedging his bets, in the event the house/senate take a turn in NCCo. Although it will be Dems no matter what, it will be news Dems, some of whom may not march to his beat.
He’s not hedging his bets. He’s all-in on DeLuca, with his picture plastered all over DeLuca’s latest lit piece.
Remember when pre-Bryan Townsend, I was in the Anybody But DeLuca camp? In trying to get him reelected, what passes for the DeLuca campaign has adopted the same strategy. Too bad for them that Markell is not on the September ballot. Bryan Townsend and DeLuca are.
Seriously, Jack Markell should be ashamed of himself. Enabling a double-dipper, a bully, and the state’s most unethical elected official. I thought I was supporting an ethical person when I voted and volunteered for Jack in 2008. Now, I’m not so sure. Tony DeLuca, Jack? Tony DeLUCA?!
At least Markell endorsed Katz first… Tony carried all of Jack’s water this year. A reward for his loyalty doesn’t surprise but does disappoint.
Three more NCC Exec forums before the primary – WDEL, GHADA and CLNCC.
I agree with ElSom about the constituency and likely voters going for Gordon.
And I am firmly in the AnyonebutClark camp and will cast my vote for the person best positioned to take Clark out.
I agree with Nancy. This is all political payback, not some massive ethical outrage. It is disappointing, but if you did not expect it to happen, I don’t know what to tell you.
Nancy: DeLuca is every bit as dependent on Markell, more actually, than Markell is on DeLuca. While it may have been the Minner Administration that set DeLuca up in his cushy job, the Markell Administration has continued to turn a blind eye to the legal and ethical improprieties associated with the double-dipping in return for having DeLuca by the short hairs.
Accordingly, Markell’s endorsement of DeLuca is an endorsement of those legal and ethical improprieties. Which makes me question Markell’s ethics in this instance, something I’ve never previously done.
The end of Paul Clark! Could we be this lucky?
So I will be placing in my Senate office a live television camera (KSPAN) to broadcast the meetings with the who’s who of the special interest lobbies, corporate heads and banking officials… anyone who believes in blank check-book power pedaling.
This strikes me as a stunt. Because it presumes that all of the special interest wheeling and dealing goes on in the office. Plenty of it doesn’t.
The business about not passing a Budget (actually it is a Budget Resolution) is mostly a cable TV talking point. While it is true that budget resolutions (policy documents) can’t get passed, Appropriations Bills (authorizations to spend money) do. And with that bit of dysfunction, the Federal spending under this President is still going down. Not to say that there shouldn’t be Budget Resolutions, it should not be much of a surprise that policy around budgets is contentious. Leaving one to wonder what Mr. Spanerelli will do to actually change that.
This reminds me of Scott Spencer abit. But I wish he had started out on this earlier — Carper has a record worthy of being challenged and I don’t think you can do that in 40 days.
The thing that I am reminded of when I think of the Clark- Gordon race is the Coons-Gordon race. For awhile there it genuinely looked like the latter race might be close. It looked like that because Gordon was everyplace (and making a bunch of promises he couldn’t keep) and there just seemed to be a great deal of energy attached to his campaign. Turned out that Coons won pretty decisively.
Gordon certainly looks like his campaign has alot of energy. and hooking up with Williams and Potter in the 1st and 2nd City Council District is smart, since that is where the greatest number of reliable D voters are in the City. There are alot of signs — but put out by pretty aggressive people. Heard a story from the Triangle where signs were going up on rentals and vacants with dodgy (if any) permission. But then again, signs don’t vote.
And Chris Coons did not have Paul Clark’s baggage, either. What interests me about Gordon’s campaign is that it is entirely in the business of selling nostalgia. If you look at his website, there is nothing there about the County’s current issues and problems, just a litany of supposed accomplishments from when he was County Exec. And the theme is “Promises Kept”. Which is pretty much the theme of their Facebook and Twitter messages. I’m astonished that no one is calling him on this — I mean the old days are great, but the new days are serious business — and that no one is calling him out on the big hole in this “Promises Kept” BS. And that real big hole is the Very Big Promise Broken, which was his oath of office.
I’m curious as to why others think he is getting away with not having to talk about the county’s current issues.
Cassandra, Gordon has been getting called out frequently on the BS, but the News Journal doesn’t seem to want to print it. I have two friends that live in the Triangle, one owns and one rents, and both found O’Gordonbery signs in their yards when they returned home from work last week. Neither gave permission. You are right, he appears to have momentum, but he really has no message. He wants to highlight the “good times,” which were only good because of the state of the economy. Just like with the Coons-Gordon election, people will start to wake up to the fact that the past includes scandal, indictments and convictions.
At least, I hope so…
Gordon gets away with it because:
1. the moment Clark tries to call him out, he’ll be hit with the “cozy with developers” counterattack,from which there is no way out.
2. Shahan launched his campaign anticipating that Clark would be his opponent, and his team isn’t strong enough to credibly attack Clark and Gordon simultaneously.
4. no one is paying any attention to Husband, even though he is arguably the smartest (and cleanest) guy in the race.
I almost barfed when I saw that Gazette item, which I believe is a paid advertorial. Note that it’s very careful to avoid saying Pete and Jack endorsed him. That’s a sign that you’re playing fast and loose with voters’ impressions. The Gov and the Future Speaker can’t very well refuse to have a photo taken.
Frederick is a washed-up smiley-faced hack who’s going to get fewer votes than Micheal (Not A Typo And Do You Like My Huge Sign At Five Points?) Miller.
MW, the funny thing is, if you look at Gordon’s financial reports from past elections, he received contributions from those same developers. BTW, if anyone thinks that Shahan isn’t carrying Gordonbery’s water for him, pay close attention to how he answers questions in the debates. He did it when Gordonbery was in office and he is doing it now.
ES: Montgomery has more signs in the [majority black] triangle bounded by Concord, Washington, Baynard and 18th – including on Theo’s block. Obviously, Montgomery owns Highlands, 40 Acres, the west side of Baynard Boulevard, Midtown Brandywine. Williams owns the Harlan-PS neighborhood, is nowhere to be found in Hilltop [or the Valley]. If you see a Kelley sign north of Lancaster Avenue, I missed it.
Kelley’s fixin’ to be the Vivian Houghton of this race. Williams can’t run a campaign, but is getting mileage by leveraging on Gordon, Potter and Scotty’s folks.
JayL,
I’m aware of perception that Shahan is carrying water for Gordon. Frankly, Shahan got in before Gordon committed to running and, while he now has little chance of winning, he couldn’t think of a graceful way to withdraw without looking like he was ceding the race to Gordon.
That’s why I wish Husband had built an organization and jumped in sooner.
Don’t be fooled by signs. Gordon’s people go through neighborhoods randomly placing signs anywhere. They often don’t even ask. Some folks just let anybody put up a sign.
Signs don’t vote, we always say, but in a place where you aren’t going to get much in terms of polling, it is hard not to use them as a proxy for candidate energy.
Montgomery has alot of signs in the Triangle because lots of city workers live there AND they are one of the few neighborhoods that got a great deal of attention from the city.
Of all of the Facebook pages, Kelley’s is pretty dynamic and is working at using the site to its fullest. Montgomery’s and Williams are largely perfunctory updates with a small pool of people even interacting with the pages. I do not know what that means, especially in Wilmington.
I’ve been trying to make a judgement as to where I think the candidates for Mayor are all week, and really just don’t know that I can do that at this point. Williams has been getting media attention via some recent endorsements, but no one seems to see him except at debates. The “black clergy” did not endorse Williams — it is one group of black clergy in the city. Not many of the old line ministers in the group, either. And here I’m not sure what this endorsement translates into — the black city churches are routinely filled with lots of parishioners who do not live in the city. Derrick Johnson finally officially endorsed after shopping his endorsement around for weeks. When no one was going to pay his price, he made the commitment to endorse Kelley. He has apparently gotten his price and endorsed Williams sometime this week.
Kelley just started putting up signs in the last couple of weeks and there are a few in the Triangle and and a decent number scattered through CD 1 and 2. I see few Williams signs outside of CD 1 and 2. The other day, I did see a truck or van that was tricked out with Williams signs sitting on one of the car lots on Pennsylvania Ave.
Montgomery is working on knocking on doors and Kelley has been out there walking the blocks for months and internally seems to have a grasp on who their voters will be. No idea if Williams will be out meeting voters.
The trick about the Williams thing is that the people who will talk about this race publicly are not in the city and will take NJ mentions as some indicator of being in the lead. Williams I think knows this and has been playing up the inevitable bit without asking for votes. It could work. But it is well past time for all of these candidates to start working at differentiating themselves, because I think it is in doing that publicly that you’ll start getting the real temperature of the thing.
“I think the candidates for Mayor are all week…” I read this as “weak.”
——–
In Sussex, I can’t believe how many people have Ayotte signs up – real people in real homes, even in the heart of Lewes. Deaver may have a fight on her hands. I just can’t believe it. Have they spoken to the man? He’s a f’in loonybird.
Don’t forget that Ayotte has a primary against Brent Wangen, which is why his signs are up already. It’s early for signs for the November general.
I was speaking more to the fact that actual people have Ayotte signs up, in an area overwhelmingly Democratic. He appears stronger than Urquhart in the same area.
I think Kelley has a better chance than he’s getting credit for.
We have now heard from a true expert on Looney Birds 😉
… says the man who’s supporting KWS. 😉
@SussexWatcher
Yeah, but it seems to me that most of Ayotte’s signs are on or in the vicinity of Gravel Hill Road, which is Don’s turf. I haven’t seen a single Ayotte sign in downtown Lewes, which seems to have mostly Deaver, Mayor, and Lopez signs. Joan just started passing out her signs in the last couple of weeks. Although it’s hard to tell where the support lies because I don’t know what the ratio of part time to full time is in Eastern Sussex.
Perhaps the GOP chair person can comment. OOOps, he is in Africa for three weeks on a safari.
people are sick of Paul Clark. he and his wife made out with a lot of money thanks to his public service. not to mention, clark doesnt seem to be running any more of a campaign than husband or shahan.
gordon seems to be the only one of the candidates that’s running a professional campaign with energized supporters. i agree that clark has no constituency besides the developers.
I agree with El Som on h.is assesment on the County Exec.Gordon has virtually every significant endorsement The AFl- CIO. the StateFraternal order of police, the volunteer fireman.the wilmington police and fire unions and practically every black elected official and minister in Wilmington are supporting Gordon. He has the support of Dennis Williams the likely next Mayor and Theo gregory candidate for Pres of Council without opposition and black community powerehouse Sammy Congo His Irish Catholic background and the suuport of the Wilmington Police will serve him well on the West Side. He’s also reminding them of the significant financial and police support he gave the city when he was county exec. Clark cqmpaign in the city is virtually non existent. Also his wife Pam Scott’s representation of the develoiper in the controversial Columbus Inn rezoning is not likely to serve him well in that neighborhood. In the suburbs Gornon is hammerring Clark on taxes comparing Gordon’s 8 years of no increase in property and sewre taxes to 60% propertyClark votede for tax and 80% sewer tax
He’s also reminding them of the significant financial and police support he gave the city when he was county exec.
Gornon is hammerring Clark on taxes comparing Gordon’s 8 years of no increase in property and sewre taxes to 60% propertyClark votede for tax and 80% sewer tax
See what I mean by campaigning on nostalgia? This line pretends that there is still plenty of money (and does the thing I hate — promise you all the government you can eat for free) to throw around. I know that is what some of the groups he has spoken to in the city are buying.
Also his wife Pam Scott’s representation of the develoiper in the controversial Columbus Inn rezoning is not likely to serve him well in that neighborhood.
Bill Montgomery was the tip of the City’s spear for this development and that hasn’t seemed to hurt him in the 8th.
To Ju8tice 24’s point , I don’t think you can overestimate the negative influence the Pam Scott developer/ Paul Clark Ethics issue on the election.Clark was found guilty twice by the Ethics Commission of not recusing in his wife’s rezoning. He was also found guilty of having his aide do campaign work on county time. His most recent news stories involving his tin ear on appropriate etihical behavior by a government official involved creating a six figure job for his past and present campaign finance chairman and a politically appointed exec utive assistant attempting to politically strong arm a community activist asking for county assistance into politically supporting Clark. It it would be difficult to understand how any progressive democrat or any who cared about land use or good government could vote for Clark
It it would be difficult to understand how any progressive democrat or any who cared about land use or good government could vote for Clark
I agree with this, which is why most of the progressives here aren’t likely to vote for him. But on the other hand, it is difficult to understand how any progressive democrat or anyone who cared about fiscal responsibility or good government could vote for Gordon.
If you put Ayotte or Wangen on County Council there will be nothing standing between the people and out of control development with no infrastructure and no regard for the environment. Joan Deaver must be reelected!
To Cassandra’s recent postings, I certainly agree that the plan for the future is more important than the past. But it is surely fair and appropriate for a candidate to runon their record as it just as fair for their opponent or the public to criticize that record. Gordon’s fiscal record has to be considered outstanding. When elected he inherited a government that had a significant future operating deficit. He was able to manage that deficit without raising taxes for 8 years, gave senior citizens sewer and property tax relief, greatly expanded the library and park systems, provided Wilmington financial relief, Got the county’s first tripleA bondrating, and left his
successor with over $250 milllion surplus. You may criticize him but surely not for handling the government. Fiscally close to walking on water
To the Gordonberry backers: It’s easy to walk on water when the economy’s going gangbusters. He was in the right place at the right time. What cuts is Gordon going to make if the economy doesn’t pick up?
My sense is that there are Gordon, Shahan and Husbands supporters. There are anti-Clark and anti-Gordon people too. But are there Clark supporters? I think El Som is right.
left his successor with over $250 milllion surplus
Some of this was smoke and mirrors, or maybe just smoke. Nonetheless, SA says it all — it is easy to run governments when money is coming in like the flood. Those days are quite over and unlikely to return for awhile. And everyone knows Gordon knows how to spend money. From the way his campaign is selling itself, it looks to me that he doesn’t know about the slowdown in revenues to everyplace. Which isn’t to say that spending money is bad — he should start telling people where this money is coming from to match up all of these expectations being created.
To Cassandra’s recent post: The cliche “smoke and mirrors” usually is used to explain something that the individual can’t explain. Municipal governments like New Castle County are not very dependent on the state of the national or state economy. Their tax base is relatively stable in good times and bad. That is because they are largely dependent on the property tax as their main source of revenue. Property taxes are always collected even on foreclosures. The money doesn’t come in like a flood. But back to the financial sleight of hand suggested by the “smoke and mirrors” reference. The bond rating agencies don’t hand out those Triple A ratings like m&ms. Less than a hundred municipal governments in the country have that distinction. You have to be doing everything right
Like his boss Gordon, sisyphus ignores the plunge in the realty transfer tax, which has sent local govts across the state crying into their cups. Gordon has no idea how to govern in tough times. His promises are utterly empty.
The rise in transfer tax was gradual and did not kick in until 2001 with 2004 Gordon’s best year for receipts. Hardly an administration wide “flood”. Also it is true that back property taxes are collected on foreclosures but not until the bank or government entity sells them. Federal entities are exempt from transfer tax. There was a federal suit in the Midwest that challenged the standing of Fannie Mae to be exempt. It is under appeal and most jurisdictions are not enforcing collection. Only one in Delaware NCC announced it would collect. This would have delayed propety tax collections in cases where buyers could not get their loans due to the extra cost. Under pressure County Executive Scott relented and recinded the order. A full Scott administration will be great for the 19807 crowd!
2001 to 2004 roughly corresponds to the housing bubble. So it makes sense that transfer taxes and other fees associated with housing would be at its peak at this time. And that it would plummet along with real estate tax collections and development fees as the bubble burst.
Municipal governments like New Castle County are not very dependent on the state of the national or state economy.
They certainly do if the national or state economy experiences a housing bust or a credit crash. Which is the source of our current difficulties. Speaking of something an individual can’t explain.
To Sussex watcher. Let’s give you a lesson in municipal finance. I’ll go slow assuming that you’re from Sussex. While real estate transfer taxes do incur significant reductions in this unprecedented housing recession, there are many other countervailing economies that offset these losses. For instance one of Paul Clark’s favorites is refinancing the existing debt. When municipal interest rates fall as they have to historic lows what were 4% bonds become 2% generating not only lower interest payments but also in many cases a pile of cash to spend. Also in periods of economic downturn (deflation) prices of materials and labor are significantly lower resulting in significantly lower procurement budgets and construction projects coming in significantly underbid. There’s even a silver lining forclosures. The sherrifs office generates to the county treasury several million dollars in extra fees. Incidentally genius gordon’average annual revenue from the real eastate transfer tax was less than Coons since most of the years he had it the local share was 1% compared to the 1.5% Coons had. Ia should also be recognized that Gordon because he saw the need to broaden the tax base was the main force behind convincing the legislature to increas the local share to 1.5%. I hope this helps. Look it’s ok to hate Tom Gordon. But don’t make an ass of your self using facts you don’t understand. Just do it out of emotion and meanspiritedness
To Sussex watcher. Let’s give you a lesson in municipal finance. I’ll go slow assuming that you’re from Sussex. While real estate transfer taxes do incur significant reductions in this unprecedented housing recession, there are many other countervailing economies that offset these losses. For instance one of Paul Clark’s favorites is refinancing the existing debt. When municipal interest rates fall as they have to historic lows what were 4% bonds become 2% generating not only lower interest payments but also in many cases a pile of cash to spend. Also in periods of economic downturn (deflation) prices of materials and labor are significantly lower resulting in significantly lower procurement budgets and construction projects coming in significantly underbid. There’s even a silver lining forclosures. The sherrifs office generates to the county treasury several million dollars in extra fees. Incidentally genius gordon’average annual revenue from the real eastate transfer tax was less than Coons since most of the years he had it the local share was 1% compared to the 1.5% Coons had. It should also be recognized that Gordon because he saw the need to broaden the tax base was the main force behind convincing the legislature to increas the local share to 1.5%. I hope this helps. Look it’s ok to hate Tom Gordon. But don’t make an ass of your self using facts you don’t understand. Just do it out of emotion and meanspiritedness
Actually 01 was not that special and dumped in the 4th quarter due to 9/11 that slide continued in the 1st quarter of 02. O3 was decent and 04 was good. The receips while helpful were not a major percentage of overall revenue. The best 2 years of the bubble were post Gordon 05 and 06. As to ” development fees” they are exactly that fees for service by county employees and would not contribute to a surplus. Say what you will about Gordon but it’s a fact that he was an outstanding money manager and did not ride a flood of extraordinary revenue. County Executive Scott on the other hand is only adept at managing the needs of her Country Club fiends.
Sisyphus is correct on all counts. I kept my analysis to transfer tax. There is in fact a healthy charge to record a sherrifs deed and taxes and county and municipal fees have to be brought up to date. Now that things are turning this revenue stream when added to transfer tax will easily exceed the amounts Gordon enjoyed in these areas throughout his 2 terms, stil wanna tell us he was a crappy manager????
One more thing banks can foreclose a property and wait to record the sherrifs deed until they sell the property. I have personally done 11 bank transactions this year. The number is growing across the board. This will translate to a tidy sum that I know Tom will manage well once again.
The housing boom was just that, a boom. It wasn’t gradual, a simmer, or a slow build. Just as quickly as homes sold the real estate transfer tax came in. Also, just as quickly as they stopped selling so do the influx of cash from RTT. As for managing money, Gordon wouldn’t know how to balance a real budget if his life depended on it. During his administration he was swimming in money like Scrooge McDuck. The boom kept it rolling in. Instead if putting policies and systems in place to ensure solvency for the future, he gave all the employees raises. While I’m sure many deserved it, the tax payer suffered for it in the long run. On his way out the door he gave away $53 million in grants, many to political supporter’s organizations. That is not a fiscally responsible manager. How do you suppose Gordonbery will support the financial promises he’s made to the Wilmimgton FD an PD? The RTT is in the tank right now. Redevelopment is bringing in some money, but not much. If he cuts off redevelopment in NCC then he cuts off new jobs which results in a stagnant economy. His only resort would be to cut government jobs and pay, or raise taxes. He has “promised” not to do either. Many of these folks speak of Clark rolling in money. I do not see a single thread of evidence to support this. In fact, it was Gordonbery who made out like bandits with low interest personal loans, using county employees as personal servants and running the government like their own personal country club. Anyone who wants that corrupt group back most likely is hoping for a handout or personal favor from them in the future. NOTHING Gordonbery does is legitimate, ethical, or has a basis in truth. The only promise he will keep is to disgrace New Castle County once again with his corrupt and illegal cronies and actions.
Well officially right now signs are only authorized of private property until 30 days out. Gordon, has placed many signs on private property without permission. It was because they had a Williams sign in the yard already. Only reason I haven’t voted absentee yet is due to the IC’s race. Donated to Bock, Kelley, Prado.
I think Paul Clark, Kim Williams, will win. Anything can happen with IC and Mayor’s, 23rd REP, 11th SEN race. I have only received lit in my house with 5 democratic primary voters from Mitch Crane. No local primary here just county and statewide. Brady and Katz…
To Jayl: As I said to Sussex watcher, It’s okay to hate Tom Gordon. But don’t make an ass out of yourself by having strong opinions on factual situations that you have no information. Just do it out of emotion and meanspiritedness. I’m not going to repeat my RTT comments but if your interested in the numbers they’re on the county dept of finance web page.But I will refer back to my comment to Cassandra.The objective view of the Gordon administration financial management and governance was rendered by the bond rating agencies who bestowed on NewCastle County under Gordon, the county’s first Tripole A Bond rating, a distinction shared by less than a hundred state and municipal governmments in the whole country.
Josh,
I thought you were all about Spivack? Have you had a change of heart?
Josh, I just want to know why you think Clark will win. Not being snarky, but I want to know what you see as his constituency. I’m honestly having trouble finding it. Who is going to vote for him in sufficient numbers for him to win? I’m not a Gordon supporter, far from it, but Gordon has a constituency, for better or worse.
EL SOM: I don’t understand the visceral dislike for Paul Clark, NCC Special Services has been responsive to complaints. He has a positive rapport with those with a stake in county government. Developers, the Building Trades as well as some of the party establishment. Not all county employees, but the majority of the current county council which each have an organization and not everyone of them have a primary. He is the regular guy candidate to have a beer with. Frankly, I think he’s running a solid campaign.
The primary difference between Paul Clark, and Chris Coons, in my assessment is the questionable ethics, which are generally standard practice in politics. He also does less analysis before making a decision. He hasn’t done anything a good deal of other politicians haven’t already done. I don’t think the kitchen sink that is being thrown at him will stick.
My other belief is Gordon, has a cap on his support because of his past. Constituency or not Gordon, has more detractors and negative’s than, Clark. Husband, is a non-starter and Shahan, doesn’t have the cash to play. In the last 30 days the same thing that happened in Gordon, or Freeberry, V Coons will. Gordon, will likely trash all opponents signs. Clark, will have more Billboards and mailers by COB 11 SEPT 12 and take the win.
Idealist: I am think I’ll go to the 4th floor of the Carvel State Bldg in a few hours. Going to head to Delcastle Recreation area and run the track for a few miles. The lights turn on at 5am.
Josh: you sound like a Gordon supporter. Talk about “damning with faith praise” You suggest support for Clark because of his rapport with developers. Further you state he has questionable ethics and does not do analysis before making decisions. With friends like you …..
Gordon, was convicted of a crime related to his public service. Clark, has done a good job. Absolutely nothing illegal just questionable ethically. He rectified the problem. Gordon, does not ever need to serve in government again. Personally I don’t see a problem being pro growth and pro development. It’s good for the economy. That is Clark, pro-growth, pro-development. Some call it sprawl. I think that it’s smart responsible growth.
All those “questionable ethics” that you speak about regarding Paul Clark have affected my quality of life (that can be defined in many ways) . . . that is what will lose him the election. Nothing more nothing less.
Clark has done a good job? Decreasing the presence of NCC PD in neighborhoods, cutting pay for employees and increasing taxes is a good job???
Do the laws of supply and demand not apply to development? See you keep taking about pro or con development. It should be about resonable development and what fits with the existing character of communities. We are ranked 49th in quality of living. More noise, pollution and traffic will not aid in making this a better state to live in. I am not against development, I come from a family of contractors/developers. However, you have to be a fool to think we need to be sheparded through the process by an executive assistant with no knowledge of the UDC or basic civil engineering. That is how you get around rules and regulations via special waivers. Nothing more, nothing less. If you want to shepard anyone through the process, it should be residents who are concerned with losing their quality of life, not the guys with land use attorneys.
To allow historic buildings to be neglected then demolished so the land can be rezoned.
To allow permits for code noncompliant prints at board of adjustment hearings.
To allow waivers preventing traffic impact studies.
To allow companies to call development of a parcel without an existing structure redevelopment.
To allow the county to purchase unsold work force housing.
To allow nonresidents to hold management positions within the county.
To allow your wife to form her own LLC as an independant contractor with your home address a day after resigning from her ethically compromised position.
To allow your executive assistants to run your election campaign during work hours.
Is to allow corruption in government.
Josh, if you mean “Clark has done a good job” in the sense that he has raised taxes repeatedly, been in bed (almost literally) with developers and failed to maintain any real communications with the residents of New Castle County, then you are spot on.
Thank the Lord we have Nancy Willing to watch over County Government. She has Vast, Historical knowledge and most of all, is Always correct on her facts! She really knows all the facts and every little detail to exactly how it happened.
“To allow your wife to form her own LLC as an independant contractor with your home address a day after resigning from her ethically compromised position.”
If she’s not a contractor with the county, that’s her business, isn’t it?
Thank you Nancy Willing for keeping the watch on the Newark Town Center. All of you CAPPA people better get out there and vote because you heard what Paul Clark had to say about us in Nancy’s video!!!!!