1. Rethug Candidate Haul Less Than Meets the Eye.
Now don’t get me wrong. The majority of D State Senators are long in the tooth, and the D’s had better be looking for their ‘next generation’. Having said that, this ‘class’ of R candidates who were breathlessly touted by Messrs Copeland and Burris are pretty much the next generation of losers. Other than the announcement of a challenger to Sokola, there’s no new news here. James Spadola, Anthony DelCollo, and Carl Pace filed months ago, and we wrote about their candidacies then.
Spadola is a Newark City cop which, I believe, makes him ineligible to be a State Senator. The Supreme Court has held that law enforcement officials cannot serve in the legislative body b/c they would then be in a position of both making and enforcing the laws, which the Court holds is a violation of the State Constitution. Maybe he’ll quit as a cop, maybe he won’t. If he doesn’t, I think the law is clear that he then can’t serve in the legislature. He says he’s a social liberal, but an economic conservative. I think the 1st Senatorial District is not particularly hospitable to this ‘economic conservative’ BS.
Gun rights are the calling card for Anthony DelCollo, who is running in the 7th Senatorial District, presumably against incumbent Patti Blevins. Check out the non-specific blather on his issues page. But here’s where he gives himself away:
Anthony is a Delaware State Sportsmen’s Association director, Delaware Rail Splitters executive committee member (a Rethug organization) and a founding member of the Delaware Association of Second Amendment Lawyers.
In other words, a one-issue candidate. He has a higher IQ than most R’s, but he’s as partisan as they come. He ain’t goin’ nowhere in this district.
Stop me if you’ve heard this one. Among Carl Pace’s many short-lived jobs, he ‘…then served the community of New Castle County, as a law enforcement officer.’ Actually, Jason330 quoted that yesterday. I love his bio:
Carl’s proven record of leadership, dedication and community service will enable him to be a successful Delaware State Senator. Carl and his wife, Jade, own businesses in Delaware, with offices located in Middletown. In addition to being a local entrepreneur, Carl has volunteered with the Christiana Fire Company as an EMS Officer, Junior Adviser, and a member of the Board of Directors. Before deciding to lead & manage his business full-time in March 2015, Carl was employed by MBNA America and then served the community of New Castle County, as a law enforcement officer.
Meaning, if you don’t know what you want to do with your life when you grow up, you might as well run for office. Bruce Ennis is getting mighty old. And this is a district that might as well be in Sussex County. Pace is unlikely to win, but maybe next time…
Making the only ‘new’ news the announcement that one Meredith Chapman will challenge Dave Sokola in the 8th SD. She filed this week. She’s uh, not ready for prime time, which you’ll see if you click her web page. She’s a social media whiz at UD, meaning she masters the technology, but, so far, is content-free. Nothing to say, but knows where and how to say it. Making her a perfect candidate for…something. I say Lieutenant Governor–as the R mirror image of Sherry Dorsey Walker. Don’t think she’s knocking off the popular Sokola though. Her husband, Luke Chapman, served two terms on Newark City Council. She’s yet another ‘fellow’ from the R campaign factory, Delaware Leadership, Inc.
I fully understand that this is the best they could do, and that these candidates at least are young. But I’m looking for those ‘new ideas’ that were touted, and all I find are old ideas and R bromides being spouted by the next generation. YMMV.
2. About that Record-Setting R Turnout…
Yep, it may have set an R primary record. But, in fact, the D’s had an even better turnout. Meaning, that interest was high on both sides. R votes: 68,847. D votes: 93,640. BTW didja notice that a D presidential candidate Roque de la Fuente got more primary votes in Delaware than R’s Jeb Bush, Ben Carson, and Marco Rubio? Now you do.
3. Those Townsend Endorsements & What They Mean.
While the Trumpster talks about building a literal wall between the US and Mexico, Bryan Townsend is building a figurative electoral wall around the greater Newark area. His campaign HQ is in Newark, the preponderance of his grassroots efforts so far have been in the greater Newark area, and all of these endorsements are from legislators who more or less are from that area. It makes sense to me. Shows that his grassroots campaign is paying off. He now starts with a solid group of supporters largely based on geography. That’s a nice chunk of voters who he can count on. The question will become: To what extent can he expand and replicate that grassroots either throughout the state as a whole or in a more specific sense. A great start though. Haven’t contributed to his campaign for, oh, three weeks or so. Might be time to ante up again.
BTW, that Scott Walker guy did file as a D for Congress. He has even less of a reason for running than Mike Miller. Including some pretty hinky landlord-tenant stuff. Some things I just don’t get.
4. Neither Mayor Williams Nor Maria Cabrera Have Yet Filed for Mayor.
Just sayin’. Will there ever come a point when they’re prohibited from debating if they don’t file? Seems silly to me. Either you’re a candidate or you’re not. Until you file, you’re not a candidate.
5. More Wilmington Filings.
Gervasio Velazquez for Sammy Prado’s 5th City Council seat. Prado is retiring. Velasquez previously ran for County Council back in 2004, and finished a distant third in a primary won by Jea Street. Mark Murowany finished second.
Brunilda Luna-Mercado has filed as a D for an At-Large City council seat. Far be it from me to judge, but here’s her e-mail address: BRUNYSBAILBONDS@LIVE.COM. And here’s a little nugget that might only interest me. Here are the listed names of the owner and the principal of Bruny’s Bail Bonds:
Bruny Mercado, Owner
Brunilda Luna, Principal.
They’re both the same person. With different names.
6. Other Filings.
State Sen. Harris McDowell (D-1st SD).
That’s it for this week. What’d I miss, and whaddayathink?