1. Miro Retires, D Primary Set In RD 22. One of the worst-kept political secrets in Dover is secret no more. State Rep. Joe Miro announced yesterday that he would retire at the end of this legislative session. This immediately becomes a top D pickup opportunity as two credible candidates have already filed. Those two candidates are Guillermina Gonzalez and Renee Taschner (I’ll link to Taschner’s website when it’s operative, which it’s not as of yet). I’m very impressed with Gonzalez’ community-building skills. And I was impressed with Renee Taschner when she challenged the slimy Gordon machine during her run for County Council President back in 2012. While she lost to Chris Bullock, she showed that she could run a countywide race. She even earned the enmity of Nancy Willing during Nancy’s ‘character assassination on behalf of Tom Gordon’ phase. Contrast the D choices with, well, what the Rethugs are looking at. We likely have Michael Smith, who primaried Miro in 2014 and got 43% of the vote, and, well alri-i-i-i-ght, Fred Cullis!? Smith says he’s looking at the race, and Cullis has put together a campaign committee, according to the Delaware State News. For those of you who may have forgotten, Fred Cullis was gonna run for Congress in 2010 as a ‘Trump before Trump’ candidate. He settled on running against Patti Blevins for her State Senate seat and got 39% of the vote. In other words, the ‘generic R’ vote. Here’s his candidate profile from 2010. My favorite excerpt?: “Fred understands careful contemplation when taking risks.”
2. Ernie Lopez Gets A D Challenger. And he’s a credible challenger, at least from the standpoint of his resume. In a Delaware Way, um, way. David ‘Dave’ Baker. From the Delaware State News profile:
He served in Sussex County government from 1978 to 2012, holding positions of accounting director, finance director and finally county administrator. He points to strong fiscal bona fides, a record of nonpartisan service under Republicans and Democrats, a focus on issues, and a history of results as cornerstones of his campaign.
OK, questions, I’ve got questions. By his own admission, he was present for the rampant overdevelopment of eastern Sussex County. What role did he play in ensuring that common sense would prevail over rampant greed? But my biggest question is this: Is he running at the behest of Pete Schwartzkopf, at the behest of someone else, or completely on his own? We all know of the (figurative) incestuous relationships between Pistol Pete, Park City Kathy, and Ernie Lopez. I find it difficult to believe that Baker would run w/o at least the tacit approval of Schwartzkopf. Which raises the question, “Why?” I’m probably overthinking it, but hey I (don’t) get paid to overthink. It just strikes me that there’s something Byzantine about this candidacy. Sussex spies, what saieth thou?
3. Rep. J. J. Johnson Makes Retirement Official. Only people who pay close attention realize what a great legislator Rep. Johnson has been. A selfless and low-key public servant who has effected major positive change during his time in Dover. Nobody has done more to effectively advance the cause of criminal justice than Rep. Johnson. Of all the legislators who have announced their retirements this session, no single loss will be felt as profoundly as that of Rep. Johnson. His replacement will be a Democrat. With registration figures like these: 10,782D; 1672R; and 2855 I, it’s likely that not even Herman Holloway, Jr. could lose this seat…although I wouldn’t want to put that theory to a test. So far, the only announced candidate is Jakim Mohammed, who at least demonstrates some potential to carry on Johnson’s efforts on criminal justice reform. Here’s what he said during a panel on police stops:
Panelist Jakim Mohammed, a retired New York police officer and a Democratic Party representative, said the standard for police use of force – that they fear for their life – could use updating.
“We don’t want a Sandra Bland in Delaware,” he said, referring to a black woman found dead in a jail cell after a minor traffic violation last year. “If (the law) is so vague you can run a bulldozer through it, you have to be a part of change. Get political.” Mohammed also suggested the formation of a civilian complaint review board.
I generally am (to borrow a Greg Lavelle word) loath to support any police officer running for office. This guy could be the exception. We’ll see if anybody else joins the fray.
4. Memo To Sherry Dorsey Walker: Don’t Do It. You know Sherry Dorsey Walker. She almost defeated Bob Marshall in a State Senate primary in 2014. She finished second in her try for Lt. Governor in 2016. Oh, and garnered nearly 3000 more votes than Park City Kathy in the process. She passed on a rematch with Marshall this year, apparently viewing the State Senate as beneath her. I’m not gonna lie. I am totally unimpressed with Walker, and in general am unimpressed with candidates who fancy themselves as inspirational speakers of the life counselor ilk. Give me substance, not that touchy-feely crap. Having said that, hey, she outpolled Park City Kathy last time. Why not run for something that both are equally unqualified for? State Auditor. Or, challenge Ken Simpler. She’s got a shot. However, word on the street is that Dorsey Walker is now reconsidering her decision to sit out the Senate race. Don’t do it. Tizzy Lockman is running one of the best and most substantive campaigns I’ve seen in recent memory. The entry of Walker in this race is the only development that could prevent progressive change from coming to this district. Just don’t do it.
5. Kathleen Davies To Run…As A Democrat. It’s immaterial as to whether she’s the best qualified candidate in the field, which she likely is. She is simply not gonna win a D primary against the peripatetic Kathy McGuiness. She was gonna run as an independent, she could have run as an R and maybe won the general election. Which is why I’m puzzled as to why she’s running as a D. We still have the questions about her being placed on administrative leave seemingly forever. But, with Wagner as her boss, I wouldn’t be surprised if he was just being a partisan dick. Dick, as in Cathcart.
That’s it for this week. What’d I miss, and whaddayathink?