Progressives have been waiting forever to have one of their own represent Delaware in Congress. The last time a liberal voice represented Delaware in the U.S. House of Representatives was in 1966, when then-Representative Harris McDowell (the state senator’s dad) lost to Bill Roth. For the first time in 50 years, we now have the chance to elect a proven progressive and exceedingly effective legislator to Congress. A person with both intellect and heart. That person is Bryan Townsend.
Townsend is that rare public figure who has sought to do the right thing, even when it was to his own detriment. When Bryan challenged the corrupt Senate leader Tony DeLuca, he had to overcome the active involvement of the entire state Democratic power structure during his grassroots campaign, while suffering great risk to his professional career as an attorney. Karen Peterson and Dave Sokola were among the brave few who stood up for Townsend.
We now know that Townsend defeated DeLuca, which created a sea change in Dover. Bills that had never made it out of DeLuca’s desk drawer were now brought to the floor and were passed–civil unions, death penalty repeal, sentencing reform, voting rights for former prisoners, and gay marriage, among them. All passed with the help and often the sponsorship of Bryan Townsend.
Despite any ill feelings that might have remained following his defeat of DeLuca, Bryan quickly became a very effective legislator, and sponsored and passed important bills that required the ability to work well with his colleagues.
Here are just a few of his legislative accomplishments from this session alone:
* Prime Senate sponsor of the bill that did away with the criminal background check loophole for gun purchases.
* Passed legislation increasing the availability of legal services to the indigent.
* Passed legislation creating a way to address the problem of abandoned and vacant property through the creation of land banks.
* Passed legislation prohibiting housing discrimination based on source of income, which often means those who receive housing assistance payments.
* Passed legislation making it easier for those with juvenile criminal histories who have turned their lives around to get access to employment, education, housing, and credit.
All this and more in just one legislative session. He also sponsored some major ethical reform legislation which, predictably, got buried due to opposition from both lobbyists and legislators. In addition, he was a stalwart when it came to challenging the prevalence of high-stakes testing in our schools, which is one of many reasons why the Delaware State Education Association has endorsed him. As have, by the way, the Delaware Stonewall Democrats.
I want to focus on two of the many bills that demonstrate Townsend’s heart and empathy:
* SB 134, which ‘provides persons experiencing homelessness protection from discrimination while on the streets and when seeking access to housing, employment, and temporary shelter as necessary to end their episode of homelessness’.
* SB 59, which ‘creates the means for an undocumented immigrant to apply for and obtain valid driving privileges in the State of Delaware.’ This bill was signed into law.
Think about it–legislation that provides civil protections for the homeless and legislation that enables undocumented workers to deal with hardship. Two constituencies that don’t deliver votes. Two constituencies that have largely been ignored. But Bryan Townsend does what he thinks is right without resorting to political calculations. That’s why he is special.
Well, who is this Bryan Townsend fella, you might ask. He’s a product of Delaware public schools, the University of Delaware, Cambridge University in England, and Yale Law School. His mom has been a Delaware public school teacher for over 40 years. His dad was a police officer for the City of Newark. He is an attorney and has done pro bono work on behalf of children in foster care, victims of domestic violence, and veterans with service-related disabilities.
He also possesses a trait that makes him uniquely qualified among those seeking the Delaware congressional seat this year–he is an effective legislator. Not just someone who votes the right way, which he is, but someone who seeks to solve problems through the legislative process. Someone who identifies issues and crafts legislation on his own, not someone who waits for some special interest to bring a bill to him. He has already identified some of the legislative priorities he will seek to address in Washington–A $15 minimum wage; affordable college by supporting lower student interest rates and by providing two years of tuition-free college or technical training; universal pre-kindergarten; higher Social Security and Medicare benefits; and ensuring a woman’s right to choose.
Mike Castle once had a campaign slogan that resonated with many voters: ‘We only send one. Let’s send our best.’
That phrase resonates with me as well. We haven’t sent a progressive to Congress in over 50 years. I have no doubt that Bryan Townsend will immediately take his place among the best and most effective progressive legislators in the Congress.
Which is why we at Delaware Liberal enthusiastically endorse his candidacy and encourage you to support him in the primary on Tuesday, September 13.