Mo’ Better Dems 2020: 1st & 2nd Chair Violas

I doubt that I’ve ever compared the cacophonous Delaware General Assembly to an orchestra before. But I do so today…if only to argue that it’s time that the first- and second-chair Violas be replaced.

Violas. As in Reps. John Viola and Andria Viola Bennett. Father and daughter. The math is still the same: 2 x 0=0. 

The father is a hack, who ‘worked’ under the not-so-watchful eye of Tiny Tony DeLuca in the Office of Labor Law Enforcement.In so doing, he violated state law that prohibits a state employee from both ‘making the law’ (legislator) and ‘enforcing the law’ ( a so-called enforcer of labor law). Just like Tony did.  Again, the records are not being made available due to alleged ‘personnel issues’, which is total bullshit. Here’s what I wrote two years ago.  Nobody primaried him.  Here’s the secret that even John Viola knows: If he’s primaried, he will almost certainly retire b/c if he’s primaried, he’ll almost certainly lose. He hasn’t had a serious challenge in this overwhelmingly D district in well over a decade.  Here are the numbers in RD 26: 9549 D; 2848 R; and 4103 I. All that keeps him in office is political inertia.  Someone who is not a hack and who is a real D can and will win a primary challenge. The district is in SW NCC, all of it above the Canal.

His equally undistinguished daughter married into yet another political family, and inherited her husband’s office following one DUI too many. She had been a legislative aide prior to becoming a state rep.  She is best, or worst-known, for caving to political pressure from the likes of the State Chamber of Commerce and the NRA. Her district is in Kent County, but it’s emphatically not a district that skews conservative. The district runs from the shore to heavily minority portions of Dover. The numbers: 7423 D; 3468 R; 3948 I. 

Both serve in overwhelmingly D districts. Neither has done anything remotely worthwhile while serving in office. Ms. Viola Bennett, in particular, is best-known for quoting Chamber of Commerce talking points while voting against minimum wage increases.  Oh, and for killing higher taxes for Delaware’s wealthiest. Yes, she cried. Again. But she killed higher taxes on the wealthy. She’s not a Democrat.

Both of these are repeats from 2018.  They were horrible then, they remain horrible now.

Primary their asses.