The 18th RD Special Election — Start Your Engines
As you know, State Representative Mike Barbieri has resigned to become the new director of Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health under the Delaware Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS). His resignation shall be effective on July 31, 2015, though it was earlier reported that his resignation will be effective on August 3, 2015, which is the Monday following the Friday of July 31. Delaware law requires a special election be held between 30 and 45 days after the date of the vacancy (i.e. the effective date of the resignation, which is why whether the date is July 31 or August 3 is important). If it is the latter date, the election will be held between September 2 and September 16. If it is the earlier date, then the election will be held between August 30 and September 14.
The state Democratic Party has announced that there will be a meeting this Thursday night (i.e. tomorrow), at DelDems headquarters, to select the candidate from the Democratic Party. That’s a lot of notice!
In accordance with Delaware law, the Democratic Party nominates the candidate. There is no primary election.
On Thursday, July 23, 2015 at 7:00 p.m., all interested Democratic candidates are invited to speak to the R.D. Committee and Democrats in the 18th Representative District. The meeting will be held at Delaware Democratic Party Headquarters:
19 E. Commons Blvd., 2nd Floor
New Castle, DE 19720: Click Here for Directions.
Phone: (302) 328-9036All registered Democrats of the 18th Representative District are encouraged to attend this important meeting.
Immediately following the information session, the 18th Representative District Committee will meet to formally recommend a Democratic candidate to the County Committee. At this special meeting, in accordance with Rule 8.2 of the Rules of the Delaware Democratic Party, the candidate shall be chosen by a majority vote of the district committee members present and voting.
Betsy Maron
New Castle County Chair
Has anyone heard who might be interested in running?
The committee was notified last week. There are at least five people who have expressed an interest. They have all been invited to speak to the committee tomorrow night.
So who are the five?
Brad Wozniak, John Williams, David Bentz, Chris Piecuch and Martin (forget his last name). I heard labor was trying to get someone else but don’t know if they found anyone. There may be others I am not aware of.
Who do you like?
Doesn’t really matter who I like, I don’t live in the district. David is the only one I really know and I like him. He already knows the district, knows the other elected officials and their staffs and knows where projects stand. I think for somebody to come in for this one year left of a term it would make sense to elect him.
The notice I am talking about is to those resident Democrats of the 18th RD who were just notified.
Chris Piecuch ran in the primary last year against Barbieri.
Here is David Bentz’s twitter handle. I agree with AQC. It does make sense to elect him.
David Bentz is a good, reasonable, and bright guy. I have enjoyed working with him at Leg Hall and think he would do an excellent job. My $0.02.
“Good, Reasonable, and Bright”… If that is the case, I feel compelled by my remaining ethical and moral standards not to subject him to the insanity of Leg Hall (present company obviously excluded in that negative assessment). Given the budget bullshit that went down (thank you, Rep. Lynn, for being one of six brave voices), “good, reasonable, and bright” people seemed to be figuratively killed off by the NOT “good, reasonable, and bright” crew who have “Rep.” or “Sen.” in front of their name…
Again, thanks for standing strong on the budget vote. Sure it wasn’t easy to do it… Hell, I’d be afraid that chits would’ve been called in to DSP and I’d be subject to a speeding ticket a day for not falling in line with the Powers That Be on that vote.
Bentz is the 18th RD chair, a former Legislative Fellow from the U of D, and is currently a staffer with the House D’s.
If Sean likes him, then I’m inclined to like him as well. Plus, he must be pretty young.
Wonder if Pete and Val like him…
I have a source that thinks he is Pete and Val’s choice…..
I have a source who says he’s not their choice.
As I recall the rules, either the state or county chairman pick the party’s candidate. However in all recent special elections the chairman has given that responsibility to the local democratic district committee. There is no primary. whoever the committee picks is the party’s candidate in the special election
Pete Schwartzkopf is doing the impossible. Making Bob Gilligan look like a Democrat. If we get Pete’s choice (no doubt some second rate Republican) it might make this special and actual race.
The procedure is the Democratic committee members in the affected district caucus and select a candidate by majority vote. Secret ballots are not permitted by DNC and State rules. The subdivision’s (New Castle County in this case) chair then formally slates that candidate for the special election.
I, as the Sussex County Dems’ parliamentarian, facilitated the selection process for two special elections in Sussex. The first was to fill the seat left vacant by the death of Senator Thurman Adams. The second was to fill the seat left vacant when then State Representative Joe Booth was elected to Adams’ seat. In both cases state party and Democrat caucus leadership had a favorite but did not influence the votes of the committee people.
Very reassuring. (eye-roll)
Sadly, Mitch, there is only one of you… History seems to indicate that a fair share of the folks who currently occupy legislative seats, especially some in leadership positions, have no problems doing all sorts of hinky shit to make sure a good bill dies, a bad bill passes, or one of their “yes” men/women gets into the club.
You give some of these people in Leg Hal way too much credit. They can’t be stupid know nothings on one hand, and diabolical political geniuses on the other. Just doesn’t add up.
Colin Bonini = stupid know nothing
Petey Pete = diabolical political genius
Cohabitation.
Any update from last night’s meeting?
David Bentz was picked.
The calm on this thread, I guess, means the Dems have a decent pick and go into this special with good footing. All we need now if for the R’s to run someone other than Kovach.
Im seriously a bit stunned by the pick. Has anyone actually seen his work? From what I hear responsiveness, efficiency, and charisma are not his strong suits. So what is? Working in government for a few years? I have a hard time believing he is the best that district has to offer.
Not hard to tell who is feeding boss man his talking points.