1. It’s On. Kerri Harris Vs. Tom Carper. I should probably lead with this story every week from now on as it’s pretty clear that this campaign will have to generate its own news w/o any media assistance. Except for us. We’ve been calling for a race like this for years, we have chronicled Carper’s serial perfidy, we have even seen stumbles (figurative, so far) from the Great Man over the past week. Kerri Harris is a credible challenger. I think that she can win. Carper’s support is, to borrow a quote that once referenced Edmund Muskie when he ran for President, “a mile wide and an inch deep”. But it’s gonna take a grassroots effort, a legitimate grassroots effort. Volunteers, money, shoe leather, the works. She will not peak too soon. But, like Matt Meyer, all that matters is the count on Primary Day. Here is her website:
http://www.kerrievelynharris.com/
Do what you have to do.
2. It’s Allan Vs. Shupe In RD 36. Harvey Kenton retires and we’ve got Donald Allan vs. Bryan Shupe. Shupe was apparently in line to run for Gary Simpson’s senate seat, but the marble-mouthed auctioneer Rep. David Wilson jumped in front of him, forcing the tow-headed Milford mayor into this race. Donald Allan is a product of the ‘Run For Something’ program, and he’s got a fighting chance. Here are the registration figures for RD 36: 5680 D; 5573 R; and 3928 I. If you’re looking to have an impact in Sussex County, you can start right here.
3. Donyale Hall Running In SD 17. This is Brian Bushweller’s Dover area seat. Bushweller is retiring, and Rep. Trey Paradee is running. Hall may not have the R field to himself, as Jason Stewart has also announced. Hall filed this week. Here is some information on her. The irony of two accomplished black candidates running for the R nomination to challenge a D from a well-connected family is not lost on me, nor should it be lost on you. Kent County D’s have done an absolutely horrible job of reaching out to broaden their base. I mean, beyond its inbred white base with Nancy Cook calling the shots. Who knows? Maybe the primary winner here takes out Paradee. Not likely, but possible.
4. David Anderson Challenges Sean Lynn In RD 31. Lynn flirted with the AG’s race, but ultimately chose to run for reelection. It was the right choice. He’s a superb representative, one of the better progressives in Dover, and I don’t think he would even have been the progressive standard bearer in the AG’s race, that designation going to Chris Johnson, who has a larger network already in place. We all know David Anderson as a conservative blogger whose writing frankly doesn’t make much sense. And he’s either a member or past member of every ‘Christian’ right wing organization around…except those that only allow white people to join. He’d be a disaster as a state rep.
5. Speaking of Disasters As State Reps…John Viola, undistinguished hack, employee of Tiny Tony DeLuca at DOL, father of undistinguished hack Andria Viola Bennett, has filed for reelection. There had been talk that he might retire, but, seeing as how he doesn’t do anything anyway and seeing as how no one has emerged to challenge him, why not pocket free coin for two more years? Failure to primary Viola would represent a failure on the part of progressive grassroots organizations as this is a very winnable district. Get to work!
6. Other Filings: State Rep. Earl Jaques (D-RD 27) and Eugenia Thornton, challenger (R-Kent County Recorder of Deeds). Ya gotta love a Recorder of Deeds candidate whose motto is “Courage-Candor-Competence-Commitment”. At least I do.
That’s it for this week. What’d I miss, and whaddayathink?