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I know Representative Bryon Short wants to run for higher office. He told us so back in December, and then his focus was on the office of Insurance Commissioner:
State Rep. Bryon Short (D-Highland Woods) today told Delaware Liberal that he is considering a run for State Insurance Commissioner.
While he has not made a decision on the race, he told me that it’s important that the IC’s office does an effective job of ‘setting the marketplace’ to ensure competition and consumer choices, and to ‘effectively address the concerns and problems facing consumers’. He also said that the work of the office ‘is very important, but unfortunately people aren’t made aware as to just how important it is, and how it impacts them’.
Short has attended the last two NAIC (National Association of Insurance Commissioners) meetings in order to extend his knowledge for both his House committee work and to possibly prepare for a statewide run.
In his capacity as chair of the House Economic Development/Banking/Insurance/Commerce Committee, Short has been particularly active in addressing problems with Delaware’s Workmen’s Comp laws.
Since then, he has expanded his scope beyond the Insurance Commissioner’s office to that of Congress or Lt. Governor. Such an expansion of focus most likely is the result being threatened by higher up party powers-that-be to lay off Karen Weldin Stewart, the incumbent Insurance Commissioner and luckiest office holder in the mid-Atlantic. To which I say, fuck them, Bryon. Run anyway!
Karen Weldin Stewart is the perfect symbol of party patronage, incompetency, mediocrity and the Delaware Way. We, as the Delaware Democratic Party, need to weed out our weak spots before the Republicans do. Sooner or later, the GOP will run someone against KWS that will actually beat her. Further, if Rep. Short runs, no one else can run. That was the pathway to victory for KWS in 2012. She was seriously challenged by Mitch Crane, and if it stayed a one on one race, he would have easily defeated her. But miraculously, two other candidates, Dennis Spivack and Paul Gallagher, threw their hats in the ring. Karen’s 32% base support was enough to reelect her. That cannot happen again.
I also hear that Austin Auen, a young student in Kent County and commenter here at Delaware Liberal, wants to run for Insurance Commissioner. He is 19 years old and will be attending Goldy Beacom College during the campaign. I love new generations coming forward and being active in politics, and having the courage to run for office. But, no. I beg you to reconsider. Follow the example of Ezra Temko, and run for Dover City Council, or Levy Court, or perhaps even the General Assembly.
As for the Republicans, I have no idea who could run. John Brady again? Well, he’s a Democrat now. Ben Mobley again? Maybe, but he let his campaign website do dark, and that is never a good sign for a politician who plans to try again.