Announcing The 2019 MVP’s (Most Valuable To The Progressive Cause)!

OK, I had 11, and all are worthy.  At Kevin Ohlandt’s suggestion, I also looked at Amy Roe and Sara Bucic.  Their contribution has been tremendous, but they should have been on last year’s list. Mea culpa.

Here we go:

10 (tie). Delaware Democratic Party/Kerri Harris.  The two are intertwined. Erik Raser-Schramm and Jesse Chadderdon have created a welcoming environment for progressive Democrats. So much so that the old-guard trogs are complaining b/c they are now politically endangered, always a good sign.  Kerri Harris’ campaign was just the beginning. I can’t imagine anybody here who is not thrilled that she’s our Democratic National Committeewoman.  Can’t wait to see what she does next.

9.  Sean Lynn.  He got the only decent piece of gun control legislation through this year. Of course, the Senate, where far too many are in thrall to the NRA, weakened the bill. Remember that as we get into primary season. BTW, Lynn is one of the very few legislators who I can trust to vote the right way on every bill.

8. Chris Johnson. He sought, and earned, the open City Council seat following the retirement of Robert Williams.  He immediately brings hope and a wide breadth of knowledge to a legislative body that is improving slowly. In 2020, we have a chance to seriously upgrade council and, perhaps, to make council co-equal to BPG’s Mayor Mike.

7. The REV And Producer Karl.  The masterminds behind the podcast we didn’t know we needed. An eclectic cast of guests, many of whom are being heard for the first time, in a lively format that appeals to our ‘inner socialist’. I believe someone once said, ‘Consider a patronage’.

6. Jea Street. The County Councilman did what Sen. Darius Brown refused to do. In concert with Matt Meyer, he got council to place a height barrier on the Minquadale area landfill.  If you’re tired of environmental racism, and you should be, NCC is taking the lead.

5. Matt Meyer. No, I didn’t rank him here just to drive Nancy Willing crazy. But he worked with council to take the lead on fighting environmental racism.  He went after the phony baloney ‘stock exchange’ that was pushed by Tom Gordon, Biden cronies, and Mike Ramone.  He worked with the county police  and, credit where it’s due, PAL Longhurst (she got the money), to launch ‘pre-arrest criminal justice reforms’ to divert people with substance abuse problems from the courts. Plus, and I know it may be damning with faint praise, he isn’t corrupt.

4. Judge J. Travis Laster. This one should also have been on last year’s list, but it’s too important to ignore. At long last, Judge Laster is holding the Governor’s feet to the fire when it comes to providing adequate education funding for every Delaware child. That also holds true for the General Assembly.  Read what his decision means right here. This could be cataclysmic in a good way come 2020.

3. Jess Scarane.  I know, I know, she hasn’t won anything yet.  But Chris Coons needed to be challenged, and he needed to be challenged by a progressive.  Jessica Scarane has articulated a powerful message as to what she stands for and why she would be better for Delawareans in Washington than Chris Coons.  I chipped in yesterday.  Maybe you can cough up some bucks by midnight.  Right here.

2. Drew Serres & The Grassroots. They’re not a band, although some consider Drew Serres a rock star. If you look at where progressive political organizing in Delaware is now, and contrast it with where we weren’t before Eugene Young ran for Mayor, you understand the profound impact that Drew has had. But here’s where I need your responses. I want you to name each and every up-and-coming grassroots organizer who you value as we move into 2020.  While I have some names, I know that you have more. Bring ’em.

1. Attorney General Kathleen Jennings. I don’t know if she would have been this good of an AG had she immediately followed her former boss, Charles Oberly. I don’t know if she would have been this good had Chris Johnson not challenged her from the left. But she has been the best and most progressive Attorney General we’ve ever had. Better than Matt Denn, better than Beau. And they were good. Her work on ending cash bail, eliminating sentencing disparities, common sense gun reform, legalizing marijuana, diverting drug offenders from prison, consumer protection, you name it, has been outstanding. And she’s only one year into her term.  I like to think that what she’s doing now is the culmination of everything that preceded it in her career. Now, if only we could get her to primary Carney…

That’s it folks. Time to sweep the decks clean for 2020. Here’s what I know: It will either be the best year ever, or the worst year ever.