Sussex County As Key to Keeping Delaware Blue
This seems to be the thesis and part of the organizing motivation of Sussex County Democratic Chair, Mitch Crane. Mitch spoke to Don Flood at the Cape Gazette some days back, explaining why he thinks that focused effort now in establishing the Democratic Party and in getting more seats in local government is crucial to the long term health of the party:
“By the next census it is very likely that a majority of the people of Delaware will be below the canal,” he said. “And the census after that they [the majority] may very well be in Sussex.”
It’s not going to happen overnight. Crane is referring to the 2020 and 2030 censuses. But Democrats can’t be complacent.
“If the Democratic Party doesn’t build in Sussex,” Crane said, “they may start losing statewide elections.”
Sensible, of course, and I’d bet that the remaining *sensible* Republicans are even happy about this. Competitive Democrats in Sussex should help to marginalize the wingnuts that are giving all of the rest of them a bad name. Still, it is very hopeful that the Sussex Dems have a strong and focused leader, taking a long term view to party viability. He’s been recruiting for 2014 already (a thing we’ve discussed here previously) and working with the State Party to ensure that Sussex voters are not an afterthought. They’ve got some targets mapped out and certainly they are starting early enough to create some viability for their candidates. This is really hopeful, and since it is Mitch Crane we’re talking about, likely to be successful too.
The rest of the Party committees could benefit from some of this thinking — especially for long-term party building and candidate recruitment. It is very easy for a party so clearly in power to take that for granted. Giving people a reason to keep voting for you, keep writing checks and volunteering is an important exercise for the rest of the State too.
Tags: Delaware Democrats, Featured, Mitch Crane, Sussex County
“And the census after that they [the majority] may very well be in Sussex.
Where will all those people work?
Most wont have to- they are retirees from the DC area.
Which is why the area median income is so much lower according to HUD in Sussex than NCC
the retirees from DC buy their homes here….many have no mortgage – but their income is low….which further brings down the AMI for the area
Those fancy seniors only centers are not built for people under 55 that need to work puck
I know you view the lens thru NCC eyes but sussex is its own place, in many ways
The rules that apply up there have absolutely NOTHING to do with Sussex.
Mitch is wise to look waaaay down the road , multi-deminsional chess and all that.
So in about 20-30 more years, when those boomers pass on or move into assisted living, the real estate situation is going to be very interesting …
Not sure what to think about Mitch’s interview. Hope he can do it, but that’s a really rapid turnaround plan for a party in such shitty shape.
Crane is ambitious for the party in all the right ways.
When those boomers pass away there is a whole new crop behind them
The life expectancy rate is climbing and what surprises me is how may grey haired people, myself included, who are willing to fight for those ” entitlements” and things like the ACA
Many have worked hard for their entitlements and they are determined to keep them
The DC retirees and some of the PA/Philly retirees seem to be a rather well educated and intelligent group, and the Sussex GOP is NOT their cup of tea.
Pun absolutely intended…..it’s a wise and ambitious move…..what we will run out of is room on the eastern side of the county…..so western sussex better watch out….prices will dictate western expansion and the Sussex GOP won’t like that much either
Not too many folk retire to Wilmington, or Middletown….which are growing areas but those are working families with a whole different agenda and set of needs.
The beach is very attractive, if you have the money.
“Which is why the area median income is so much lower according to HUD in Sussex than NCC” “the retirees from DC buy their homes here….many have no mortgage – but their income is low….which further brings down the AMI for the area”
Since I am part of that demographic and being connected to the new home construction industry, I feel qualified to opine.
Both of these statements are sorta true, but only to a certain extent. The median income primarily lower in Sussex because of the agricultural and seasonal characteristic of the area. The fact is that retirees moving to the area have a higher retirement income than the median income. Thus serving to increase the median income rather than lowering it.
Second, the influx of retirees (which has not yet reached large numbers, but will in the next several years) are divided (in order of numbers):
1. NJ – most moving here because taxes (but really would rather stay in NJ)
2. PA – moving because of quality of life (they’ve been coming to the beach for years)
3. NY – quality of life, taxes
4. MD – pretty evenly divided between taxes and quality of life
5. DC – fairly low numbers, some telecommuters. quality of life
6. VA – low numbers, quality of life
Though they are primarily retirees, they have significant disposal income. Most, though not all are carrying a mortgage and are buying as much home as they think they can afford and still maintain their relatively affluent lifestyle. This disposable income is driving the demand for services, medical, entertainment, dining, etc.
The characterization of these retirees seems to be socially liberal, fiscal conservative. They certainly are not RWNJs or LWNJs. The mostly seem to be center right, but even then it’s a mix. Remember they are used to living within a system where considerable services are provided by the county (with considerable taxes) and are now in a county with no county roads and very little actually provided by the county.
Mitch has a secret weapon. The Delaware GOP is DEAD and will stay that way.
You are so proud of having killed it, aren’t you Mike?
You would think that most of the people coming here because the blue states that they came from taxed them out, would be center right, but that’s surprisingly not the case in my estimation.
They compartmentalize their own situation. Sure they are happy that they personally save money by living in Delaware, but they still cling to their north east Democrat roots.
I have clients from New York, New Jersey, and now even the Chicago area.
The newer developments are full of these people, and you can tell by their bumper stickers what political persuasion they are.
I have also noticed an interesting and telling pattern between Republican and Democratic customers of mine. You see, I cut grass, and I have noticed over the years that Democrats get rid of the dog shit in their yards at a much much lower rate than Republicans do.
It’s just a matter of common courtesy people. Dog shit packs your mower deck out, it gets on your tires, and smells like dog shit.
The same people almost never give Christmas bonuses. You can learn a lot about people by the way they treat their help.
The Caesar Rodney Institute is certainly doing their best to help Mitch. Stapleford recently put out a screed attacking the “Elites at the Beach…” who are actually the kind of upper income settlers that the state GOP should be courting, not shaming.
I thought the new leadership at the top of CRI would have had the sense to replace him, but they did not.
@Nuttingham: Shouldn’t surprise you. “Conservative” principles always lose out to a conservative’s self-interest.
Well my dog’s poop is picked up and I’m neither a Republican or Democrat. I also don’t have any bumper stickers on my car because I’ve never felt the need or desire to advertise my affiliations. While I am proud of those affiliations, that pride doesn’t necessitate me to tell anyone else.
As far as a Christmas bonus goes, you get a fair day’s wage for a fair day’s work. Bonuses are for those things that are above and beyond that which is contractually required, not for mowing the lawn well. After all, you aren’t being paid for mowing the lawns poorly.
It’s just a matter of common courtesy people.
Indeed it is. And if dog poop is messing up your equipment you need to make a new deal with your clients — a surcharge for cutting the grass on poop-filled yards. The free market will work it out.
And yeah, bonuses aren’t an entitlement — they are for above and beyond service or accomplishment. Or at least that’s what my employer tells me.
I don’t expect a bonus. I’m just telling you who gives them.
BTW, people’s houses aren’t businesses or corporations. I remember reading in Emily Post’s book on Etiquette, that you should give the help, a Christmas bonus which would be the equivalent to what you would pay them in a week.
BTW, people’s houses aren’t businesses or corporations.
I have NO idea what this is meant to say. Especially since that if obvious. Perhaps you mean to say that you can’t have the same business relationship with homeowners than you do with businesses or corporations and that would be bullshit.
I remember reading in Emily Post’s book on Etiquette, that you should give the help, a Christmas bonus which would be the equivalent to what you would pay them in a week.
This looks like an entitlement to me.
Emily Post on holiday tipping is meant to be a thank you for personal services during the year. Contractors shouldn’t even expect tips or bonuses.
So, Sussex County is the future population center of Delaware, eh?
Is that before or after everything to the east of Rt. 1 is underwater?
The dogshit theory is pure nonsense. Ask any delivery person or bartender who they would rather work for. 100% will pick the Democrat.
@ 1. NJ – most moving here because taxes (but really would rather stay in NJ)
I have never talked to a former Jersey resident who wishes they were still in New Jersey. All I hear how nice it is here and they wish they knew about Delaware sooner. If you have traveled Route 1 regularly over the last several years you would have noticed ever increasing numbers of Jersey tags.
fbh boo-hoo if you don’t like your liberal customers dump them If your biggest problem in business is dog shit consider yourself lucky.
“The help” is an employee of the family, not the contractor
I don’t tip the roofer , the plumber, the electrician, any of the contractors- nor the lawn guy.
I do tip the massage therapist, the salon folks but NOT the Doctor.
I do tip the trash guy, coz he goes above and beyond the once or twice a year I need it
I tip the housekeeper at Christmas because she/they does/do an awesome job and the postal carrier because, I don’t know, the regular is always so nice so I just do it
I don’t tip the guy that cuts my grass- and I pick up the dog poop every other day, he NEVER has an issue with it.
I don’t have bumper stickers on my car proclaiming my politics or anything else
I always always am generous with the bartender, even if I am not drinking alcohol- and most others that work for tips- because I remember the days that I worked for tips.
And even bad service will get something-but surly/ rude service will not only result in no tip but a conversation with your boss.
And I have seen well-heeled doiziens be the cheapest folks out there
Yeah, I’d rather work for the Democrat anytime too – our staff has never complained. 🙂
If your biggest problem in business is dog shit consider yourself lucky.
Line of the day!
No LeBay, it’s not my biggest problem, and what do you know about jacking up a commercial mower ,and using a paint scraper to scrape dog shit mixed with grass from under the deck after work or the next morning before work? Multiple times per week every week. I don’t think you have a clue.
Cassandra is actually right when she mentioned a surcharge for dog shit. I’ve heard of guys charging a surcharge for dog shit, but in this economy is it worth the risk of losing a customer over it.
I cut grass for 6 years when I was a teenager, FBH. I also maintained & repaired commercial mowers for a small landscaping contractor for a number of years in the ’90s. I know plenty about cleaning dog shit and other debris from the underside of push mowers, consumer mowers and commercial mowers. Did you have another question?
Edit:
Also never got a Christmas bonus from a single customer, as here in NCC it’s uncommon to cut grass in December. The cutting season typically ends in October, though we had a warm spell in ’86 and I cut a few lawns that December.
I never received a bonus from any customers either, nor did I expect one. My business experience was quite different vis-a-vis liberals and conservatives. I eventually ended up with a loyal base of liberal customers, because they wanted everybody to do well. They were no pushovers but they were fair. On the other side the more conservative business people thought it was their responsibility to screw everyone. Customers,employees, or suppliers it did not matter. They did well financially but, their greed made them miserable.
Tom,
As my experience in the 4-5 star restaurant business, wealthy Liberal customers tipped much better wealthy Republicans and waitressing is hard work too!!!
“The Delaware minimum wage for tipped employees is $2.23 per hour, the same as the federal minimum wage for tipped employees. The Delaware tipped wage applies to employees like waitresses, waiters, bartenders, valets, and other service employees who earn more then $30 in tips a month.”
It’s time to increase the minimum wage for these workers who bust their buts!!!