Delaware Political Weekly: April 6-12, 2018

1. GOP Finds Its Sacrificial Lamb For Congress.  Presbyterian first, Rethug second?  A military chaplain who served in Iraq.  This guy.  Campaign hasn’t gotten off to a rousing start. He either did or didn’t violate Department of Defense rules when he announced his candidacy at a Kent County Republican candidates event.  Seems like a nice guy.  Doesn’t look like his campaign is ready for prime time:

Brandt, meanwhile, is out of town on “special duty” for the National Guard this week and unavailable for interviews, according to (campaign spokesperson Tori) Parker.

The brigadier general has not spoken to the media since announcing his campaign. He also has not created a committee to raise campaign contributions or filed to have his name placed on the ballot in Delaware, according to federal and state records.

That will all change next week, Parker said.

“He has expedited his active-duty status and will no longer be on active duty by Monday,” she said. “At that time he will be available to fully undertake all the efforts of a campaign for Congress.”

Gee, that’s a relief.  Although…it’s hardly reassuring that nobody even thought about whether an active duty military man could moonlight as a political candidate.  Doesn’t matter. He’s losing in November…if he gets that far.

2. Kathleen Jennings Makes It Official.  She filed for AG this week, joining Tim Mullaney as the only two candidates to have officially filed.  Once again, the self-styled grownups who try to control the Democratic Party are putting their finger on the scale for this primary, and getting behind Jennings.  I will simply point out that her nomination is far from inevitable.  She’s never run for office before despite flirting with the possibility on several occasions.  And, while she can talk about her experience all she wants, I think that she will need to spell out her priorities, much like, say, Chris Johnson has already done.  We get it. She’s been a hard-ass prosecutor.  Not sure that’s what the public needs right about now.

3.  Dueling Primaries In the 22nd.  Not to be outdone by the Gonzalez-Taschner primary on the D side, the R’s now have their very own primary in the race to succeed Joe Miro.  Michael Smith, who lost in a primary to Miro back in 2014, filed this week, and will face Katherine Beard in the R primary.  He has a key role at the U of D, so my first question is:  Will he be just another stooge for the university?  I also want to know how a graduate of a ‘Christian school’ feels about public education.  I also kinda enjoy how he praises Miro while overlooking his primary challenge back in 2014.  To me, he has all the characteristics of a Chamber of Commerce candidate right out of central casting.

4. Newark Votes.  And elects.  Here is the story on the ‘nonpartisan’ election.

5.  Penrose Hollins Leaving County Council?  Vincent White has filed for the 4th Councilmanic seat currently held by Hollins.  Did White actually end up running for IC back in 2012, as that video suggested? I don’t remember, let me check…no, no he did not. He ran instead for a City Council At-Large seat and finished…up the track. 7th in an 8-horse race.  Doesn’t look like he’s run for office since. Meaning, if Hollins is retiring, White will not be the only candidate in the race to succeed him, nor will he likely be the favorite. BTW, White says that he was the NCC Ethics Commissioner.  Insert joke here.

6. Filing(s).  NCC Councilman Bill Powers: 6th District.

That’s it for this week. What’d I miss, and whaddayathink?