Progressive Dems offer their 2012 Endorsements
Disclaimer: I am involved with the Progressive Democrats for Delaware, and therefore I don’t feel I should or can comment on the endorsements except to provide you with the just released press release. I look forward to the commentary and criticism of my colleagues here at DL.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, August 27, 2012The Progressive Democrats for Delaware (“PDD”) is a grassroots organization that was founded in 2004 by local progressive and liberal Democrats and like minded unaffiliated voters, seeking both the advancement and preservation of progressive policies in Delaware and across the nation. We seek to strengthen the Democratic Party so that it, and we, fight for the most basic progressive principles, such as equal rights for all in all things, single payer universal healthcare, opposing austerity (for the poor and middle class should not have to pay for the mistakes of the rich and powerful), worker’s rights (including the right to unionize and participate in collective bargaining with their employers, whether they be public or private), fair and progressive taxation (including making sure wealthy citizens and corporations start paying their fair share in taxes), open government and the preservation and strengthening of the social safety net (most importantly Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid).
Every election year we endorse Democratic candidates in Delaware who will strongly fight and defend all progressive values and goals aforementioned. Our endorsement or non-endorsement, as the case may be, is not a passing of judgment on whether the particular candidate is a good and loyal Democrat. Further, a non-endorsement by the PDD of a particular candidate is not a rejection of that candidate in favor of his or her Republican opponent. In a vast majority of cases and with few exceptions, any Democrat is always better than every Republican.
To even be considered for our endorsement, candidates had to fully complete the questionnaire as instructed and return it by the deadline. Some candidates did not complete portions of the survey that they felt were either inapplicable or irrelevant to the office they were seeking. Unfortunately, without a fully completed survey, we are unable to evaluate the candidate’s positions and thus could not endorse them as a progressive. In reviewing each candidates’ response to the endorsement survey this year, it did not matter if they had been endorsed by the PDD in prior elections. Indeed, we evaluate incumbent candidates more extensively to see if their actions and statements in office continued to advance and defend progressive principles.
This year, we were pleased that nearly 50 Democratic candidates from up and down the state and the ticket sought our endorsement. This is the most participation we have ever had and we view it as evidence of progress in and of itself. Every candidate that sought our endorsement was progressive on certain issues. Undoubtedly, every candidate that sought our endorsement view themselves as progressive, otherwise they would not have answered our survey. Still, the PDD was and is looking for strong advocacy and advancement of the progressive goals, values and ideals mentioned above, and we are only going to endorse candidates that either have or will advance and defend all progressive goals.
Our endorsed candidates in 2012 are:
Insurance Commissioner—Mitch Crane
New Castle County Executive—Bill Shahan
New Castle County Council President—Renee Taschner
New Castle County Council (8th District)—John Cartier
Mayor of Wilmington—Kevin Kelley
State Senator (2nd District)—Margaret Rose Henry
State Senator (5th District)—Christopher Counihan
State Senator (8th District)—David Sokola
State Senator (11th District)—Bryan Townsend
State Senator (12th District)—Nicole Poore
State Representative (1st District)—Charles Potter and Victoria Kent
State Representative (6th District)—Debra Heffernan
State Representative (16th District)—James Johnson
State Representative (19th District)—Bill Dunn
State Representative (22nd District)—David Ellis
State Representative (23rd District)—Paul Baumbach and Jerry Grant
State Representative (24th District)—Ed Osienski
State Representative (25th District)—John Kowalko
State Representative (26th District)—Earl Jaques
State Representative (34th District)—Ted Yacucci
State Representative (38th District)—Shirley Price
I regret having given Bill Shahan short shrift in some posts. That race is such a potential embarrassment that I missed the opportunity to mention him.
I’m glad to see the PDD on the job.
This would be far more helpful if we also had a list of those candidates who sought the endorsement but didn’t make the cut.
Where is Karen Peterson?
2 endorsements for the 1st and 23rd? How does that work?
Inspired. No Governor Markell there. Bravo. Well deserved, probably thumbed his right leaning nose at the questionnaire would be my guess.
Simple, PDD evaluates each candidate individually and not in comparison to his or her primary opponent, if they have one. Thus, if two candidates in a race are progressive, PDD is not going to determine which one is more progressive than the other. Rather, it will endorse both. This happened in 2010 when both Chip Flowers and Velda Jones Potter were endorsed.
Does Markell have a primary opponent?
No.
Did Markell, Carper, Carney, Denn not fill out the questionaire? Or did PDD evaluate and choose not to endorse?
I am not Markells #1 fan, but he did sign the civil unions bill. That is mighty progressive.
Thanks DD.
Carney and Carper did not submit survey responses. Governor Markell and Lt. Governor Denn did submit responses, however, their survey responses were incomplete and the PDD Endorsement Committee felt it could not properly evaluate their responses.
Speaking as DD again here and not on behalf of PDD, I think it is obvious that Carney and Carper are not progressive. Matt Denn is a progressive, in my opinion. An argument can be made for and against Governor Markell being a progressive. Personally, given his championship of civil unions and now marriage equality, I think he is one.
It sure sounds like this is an all-or-nothing deal – either you agree with every PDD position, or you don’t get the endorsement.
“Every election year we endorse Democratic candidates in Delaware who will strongly fight and defend all progressive values and goals aforementioned.”
I hope I’m wrong, but this sounds like another group of fuzzy-headed idealists.
Im So glad someone is.seeing.the good that Bill Shahan is trying to do. HE IS FOR THE PEOPLE!!! He knows exactly what the County needs because hes WORKED IN THE COUNTY FOR SO LONG! He is a very good man & he is best fit for this position! Bill Shahan 2012 🙂
LC
Take a deep breath SussexWatcer. I take it your candidate didn’t get the PDD nod. It happens. Why don’t you is this space to talk about why your pick is better than PDD’s?
Sussex Watcher,
So you think that a Progressive Endorsement should be given to a candidate that, hypothetically, believes the social safety net should be defended and yet is against gay marriage and civil unions? Or vice versa?
It pleases me, as a member of the organization, that people actually get upset when a candidate they like doesn’t get the PDD endorsement, for it means the endorsement is coveted in Democratic party politics in Delaware. However, the endorsement is not going to be given out willy nilly to every candidate that comes asking for it.
PDD has a unique set of standards. I observed that when I atteneded meetings and decided that for a progressive organization, they are pretty regressive.
PDD is a group of fuzzy headed idealists. And I, for one, like it that way.
It was a group of fuzzy headed idealists that actually worked through the years long process of getting civil unions passed, among other things.
Every group has a unique set of standards.
I’m intrigued, PI. What about their policy goals do you find “regressive.” Perhaps it’s the fact that PDD is tied to the Democratic Party and seeks to reform that vehicle rather than being truly independent.
I agree with SussexAnon. Why does every other political group (ie Teabaggers, Libertarians, etc) get to have their views proudly expressed and yet Progressives are fuzzy headed idealists who need to shut up?
I say screw that.
Woah – a bit defensive, are we? Sorry I insulted your precious group, DD. And I don’t have a dog in this fight. I’m simply bewildered by what it means. And no one has told PDD to shut up.
My broader point is simply that you can still be progressive even if you agree with only 9 out of 10 litmus test items.
But without knowing who applied and exactly what their responses are, we don’t really know what’s what. For example, what does it mean that Markell and Denn did not fully respond?
I also think that it’s pretty fucking stupid to endorse two people in the same primary. That in particular reeks of fuzzy-headedness.
Perhaps the best thing to do would be to publish all the responses and turn this into an educational thing instead o an endorsement.
PDD is a good group and does important work within the caucus, and please remember that there are other Progressive groups in addition to those in the Democratic Party. The Green party is small, yes, but it is devoted to many progressive issues.
I’m curious about the call of Dunn over Williams in the 19th. Did Williams not return the survey? Or what specific issues caused him to get the nod and not her?
Kimberly Williams did not return a survey. She was mailed one at the address she provided to the Commissioner of Elections. Had she completed one, it is possible that she could have been endorsed along with Bill Dunn. Remember, as I said above, PDD does not compare candidates in a race and decide which one is more progressive. If both are determined to be progressive, we will endorse both and say to the voters in that district that they have two good candidates to choose between. That is what we did this year in the 1st and 23rd RDs, endorsing two candidates in each race.
Ok that’s kind of what I suspected, thanks.
I would encourage folks who read this blog (even those criticizing PDD here) to come to a PDD meeting. It’s a great way to discuss many of the topics we discuss here, but the old fashioned way, in-person.
When do they meet?
I ask because the meeting page of the website is dated 2010.
Usually they meet the 1st Wednesday of every month.
There’s an email list you can join for more info: pddemail@gmail.com.
You’re looking at the old web page. The new webpage (2011-present) is located at http://www.progressivedemsdelaware.com
At one mayoral debate, Kevin Kelley clearly said he opposed marriage equality. Did PDD factor that stance into decision?
I would think that would be very troubling to PDD?
Williams supported civil union bill and fought Markell administration against cutting state funds for poorest of the poor. Interesting…
Dennis Williams did not seek our endorsement. He did not submit a survey response. Thus, we could not endorse him. Had he submitted a response, it is quite possible he would have received an endorsement. As we have said many times in past years and now, if you do not complete a survey response you will not be endorsed. Period.
I always laugh at complaints that we did not endorse a candidate who did not complete a survey. It’s like you want an A for not completing your homework.
And yes, we did factor Kevin Kelley’s statements re marriage equality into our decision, and we decided that on the whole, he was worthy of endorsement anyway as he did support the Civil Union bill. Indeed, there was another candidate who submitted a survey response for another office who was excellent in his or her answers on marriage equality and other LGBT issues, and yet scored poorly in a host of other areas. And thus, we decided that, on the whole, the candidate did not merit our endorsement. Thus, it is really not an “all or nothing” proposition as Sussex Watcher alleged earlier, in that the candidate must be 100% pure and in agreement with PDD positions in order to garner our endorsement. We evaluate each candidate individually.
SussexWatcher alleged nothing. He quoted your own press release.
It ain’t my fault if y’all can’t splain yerselves properly or delete an old website.
Del Dem: thanks for explanation. I understand that no candidate is perfect on all the issues and it is always a balancing act. That is responsible analysis and thoughtful. Thank you for clarifying and helping explain to me the endorsement from your group.
For those interested, there is a national organization called the New Progressive Alliance. http://newprogs.org/ They are a recently formed progressive advocacy group and worth checking out.
I am surprised Senate 3 didn’t get an endorsement of any kind.
I’d like to know which candidates for NCC County Executive actually suborder a questionnaire. Also, whether they were complex or rejected. Thanks!!
I’d like to know which candidates for NCC County Executive actually submitted a questionnaire. Also, whether they were completed or rejected. Thanks!!
Mayor of Wilmington—Kevin Kelley I guess the DL really wants Wilmington fail. HEY pass the pipe around what are we smoking today it can not be common sense.
Not a strong slate.