We can argue about the merits of the recently-concluded first session of the 151st General Assembly. However, with a progressive Senate D Caucus moving full speed ahead, we learned who needs to be challenged, especially in the House, to do away with the Kop Kabal now and forever. Time and time again, we saw progressive legislation stalled or watered down due to the action and inaction of Speaker Pete’s Mindless Minions. I think it’s essential to get rid of as many House members of the Kop Kabal as possible. We’re not that far away from reaching critical mass, so it’s essential to keep our eyes on the prize.
We don’t know how redistricting will shake out. Retirements, if there are any, could well influence the new districts. However, based on what happened this year, the General Assembly would be much better off if the following legislators were no longer in it come November of 2022:
MUST CHALLENGES:
Stephanie Bolden-RD 2: Talk about an undistinguished career. Her narcissism has been her defining characteristic. Along with her Holloway family connections. As a legislator, she previously opposed cracking down on ‘payday lenders’, you’ll have to ask her why, and, this session, she single-handedly stopped a bill that would have helped probably hundreds of her own constituents by providing legal assistance to renters facing eviction from landlords. Again, you’ll have to ask her why. Or maybe direct the question to Buccini/Pollin. This district has traditionally been under-represented. Bolden’s immediate predecessor was Hazel Plant, whose sole accomplishment was being married to Al Plant. She got funding for the family business, the Eastlawn Services Center, as did her husband. And that’s it. A real community organizer could work wonders for their constituents here.
Larry Mitchell-RD 13: Literally a member of the Kop Kabal. He’s already banked three pensions (cops, Del-Tech, General Assembly). He has played a key role in slow-walking police reform. Most recently, he was a sponsor of the amendment that gutted the magazine capacity bill. He hasn’t been challenged in awhile, his district is likely to pick up more people who don’t know him. The time is now to find a serious primary challenger for him. Maybe the challenger wins this time, maybe not. But Mitchell’s headed into the sunset soon. 2022 is the year to try to make it happen.
Val Longhurst-RD 15: I know it’s a heavy lift. However, her knack for grabbing popular bills and branding them as her own aside, her Kop Kabal kredentials are there for all to see in this racially-mixed district. Not to mention, I think she is vulnerable on her six-figure ‘job’ at the Police Athletic League and how she got it. However, and this is important, if a genuine challenger cannot be found, then it’s better to spend resources elsewhere…here for example:
Franklin Cooke-RD 16: He may have been Dunleith’s friendly neighborhood cop. But, as much as Speaker Pete, Cooke helped to deep-six legit police reform. As Chair of the so-called Police Reform Commission, Cooke reveled in the presence of so many ex-cops, and made sure that the most compelling issues weren’t even considered by the Commission. His district is a minority-majority RD. He made clear that his priorities are Blue First, Black no better than second. He is a disgrace in a district that once counted J. J. Johnson as their state rep. His defeat would put an important dent in the Kop Kabal.
William J. ‘Lumpy’ Carson-RD 28: As Larry King might’ve said, “Look up the definition of ‘useful idiot’ in the dictionary, and you’ll see Ol’ Lump’s picture”. Which is why Speaker Pete has gifted arguably the Dumbest D In Dover with the chairmanship of the Joint Finance Committee (every other year) and the House Appropriations Committee. Which is why Ol’ Lump gratefully buried a key element of the gun reform package in the House Appropriations Committee even though money for the bill’s implementation was funded in the Budget Bill. Even more than the gutting of the magazine limit bill, this defined the House leadership’s breaking its word on the gun reform package. Ol’ Lump is an anachronism in his own district: a rural guy in an increasingly-suburbanized district. He is ripe for the pickins. Pick him, and the collective IQ of the House immediately soars.
Bill Bush-RD 29: Bush has already inherited the title of Resident DINO from Quinn Johnson and Bryon Short. That’s why Pete installed him as chair of the Business Lapdog Committee, which was originally founded to provide Carper acolyte Short a platform to seek higher office. Until this year, it was where minimum wage increases went to die. Were it not for the great grassroots effort on behalf of SB 15, it would’ve died this year as well. Bush also opposes rights for renters and for those living in manufactured home communities. He’s also a Big Deal at Del-Tech as a member of the Board Of Trustees. He’s smart, but he’s Chamber-corporate all the way. He hasn’t been there that long, and he’s to the right of the D’s in that district, or, at least I think so. Primary him, and let’s find out.
Andria Bennett-RD 32: It would be political malpractice not to primary her. She was a consistent opponent of minimum wage increases–until this year when it became evident it would pass. Gun bills, renters’ protection, manufactured housing residents, you name it, she’s either against it or she’s completely unpredictable. She voted against the magazine capacity bill even after sponsoring the killer amendment. Betcha her constituents don’t like that. I’d put her right there w/Ol’ Lump on the Dumbness Scale, but she has a little trailer park cunning to her. She beat up her husband and had the cops keep it out of the papers. She conducts her committee hearings in an utterly unprofessional manner. Her district is overwhelmingly D, and the residents there deserve much better. In a year with so many tempting targets, she probably ranks #1–especially since a credible challenger will likely smoke John Viola’s daughter. A General Assembly with no Violas–a pleasant thought. Even in the string section, you’d never know they were missing.
Darius Brown-SD 2: The only senator on the list. Sure, it might be nice to find upgrades for Spiros Mantzavinos, Nicole Poore or Bruce Ennis–but none of them are a true impediment to the progressive agenda the Senate has run. Darius Brown, however, sold his vote on limiting the Minquadale landfill in exchange for campaign contributions from Waste Management and its bagmen, The Byrd Group. He then publicly beat up a female acquaintance. He’s been given plenty of chances to ‘turn his life around’. He’s demonstrated that the Senate is not the place for him to continue this makeover. Having said that, his ‘opponents’ last time truly stunk of suckitude. Is it asking too much to have someone who is not a self-dealer run for this seat?
OTHERS TO CONSIDER:
Nnamdi Chukwuocha-RD 1: Gotta say, I was really disappointed that he was the prime sponsor on the amendment that gutted the Magazine Capacity bill. However, the last thing I want is to give the Potter grifters any hope at all.
Sherry Dorsey Walker-RD 3: She appears to be on a quest to BE somebody rather than to DO anything. Which is why she, along with Stephanie Bolden, opposed Melissa Minor-Brown’s ascension to leadership, which was utterly pathetic on both their parts. If they couldn’t have it, they’d make sure that another Black woman wouldn’t get it. Mirror, mirror on the wall… She’s already run for statewide office once. Perhaps her constituents would be better served by someone who has their eyes set on serving the district. And staying in it. Of all the people on this list, she was the one I most considered upgrading to the ‘Must Challenge List’. Still might.
Gerald Brady-RD 4: Gotta say, he’s voted the right way and sponsored some good legislation. If only he could put two sentences together, he’d be a greater force in that caucus. He can’t and he won’t.
Sean Matthews-RD 10: Sean was a huge improvement over Dennis Williams, and has been a champion for public education. However, he sponsored the killer amendment on the Magazine Capacity bill, and he cast a couple of puzzling votes against the rights of manufactured housing communities. Warning signs…
Pete Schwartzkopf-RD 14: Only if a legit candidate emerges. You don’t need to defeat the leader of the Kop Kabal in order to defeat the Kop Kabal.
Kim Williams-RD 19: In some ways, similar to Sean. Also sponsored the killer amendment after lamenting that her WMD might make her a criminal if the bill wasn’t amended. I guess getting rid of her WMD is not an option.
OK, kids, fire away. Agree, disagree, add or subtract names. And, of course, suggest suitable challengers.