State Rep. Mike Barbieri has resigned from the General Assembly effective at the end of the month to take a job with the Department of Health and Social Services’ Division of Substance Abuse.
He’ll be taking over as the new director of Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health under the Delaware Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS).
The new post continues Barbieri’s work in this substance abuse and mental health field. In 1992, he founded Crossroads of Delaware, a Wilmington-based adolescent substance abuse treatment program. By taking the post, he’s relinquished ownership of the facility to prevent any perceived conflict. He also worked as a probation officer in Philadelphia’s drug unit and served as executive director of a drug treatment facility in Bel Air, Maryland.
“Barbieri brings a wealth of knowledge about addiction and mental health services, and the needs of vulnerable people across our state,” said DHSS Secretary Rita Landgraf in a written statement. “With his background in social work, and substance abuse treatment and recovery services, he is the ideal person to lead this division.”
I normally balk at a situation where a State Representative takes a state job, because it normally looks just too damn convenient. Like the situation with Rebecca Walker and others before her. But this is a situation where it seems like Barbieri is the most qualified and experienced guy for a job.
Barbieri currently represents the 18th RD in Newark. A special election will be held between September 2 and September 16, as a new election has to be held between 30 and 45 days after the vacancy, which will occur on August 3.
So, good luck to one of the good guys. He will be missed.