Delaware Political Weekly: Feb. 18-24, 2022
1. Collin O’Mara Pondering Run For Governor. He would be the second member of his immediate family to have run for Governor. His wife ran for Governor–of Maryland–in 2018, and came in 4th in the Democratic primary. O’Mara ‘maintains a residence in Wilmington’ so, like Dave McBride, he could presumably legally run for the position. There’s no denying that they both are highly-accomplished people. Former DNREC Secretary O’Mara is the current head of the National Wildlife Federation. His wife, Krishanti Vignarajah, is President and CEO of the Lutheran Immigration And Refugee Service. She got 8.5% of the vote in that primary, which was won by Ben Jealous, who lost to R Larry Hogan in the general election. Trivia Question: Who officiated at the marriage of this happy couple?
2. Three-Way D Primary (At Least) In SD 6. Ryan Peters and Russ Huxtable filed this week, joining Jack Bucchioni in the race to succeed Ernesto Lopez, who is retiring. Looking at the three of them, I think Huxtable appears to be a clear choice for progressives. He has a detailed platform, and his career history suggests to me that he will head to Dover as perhaps the leading advocate for affordable housing in the Senate. In fairness, Peters’ site is still under construction, and Bucchioni’s platform, although not as fleshed out as Huxtable’s, is decent as well. Hey, I don’t live there. What do our Sussex scribes think?
3. Kop Kabal Takes A Page From The Carville Playbook. Make no mistake, they’re afraid, very afraid, of Kerri Evelyn Harris. Our Democratic National Committeewoman is perhaps more able than anybody to unify the fractured Black Caucus in the House. Were the Black Caucus not fractured (said fracturing due, in large part, to the machinations of the Kop Kabal), there would be different leadership in the House already. So, El Som, what about that ‘page from the Carville Playbook’? The Kabal is putting out the word that they’re ‘concerned’ that, were Harris to win the primary, the seat could be at risk of flipping to R. The classic ‘centrist D’ trope used against progressive candidates. Which is why they’re covertly backing Kerri’s Chamber opponent, who will not be mentioned here. This is a laughable notion. The same Rethug who lost to Andria Bennett in 2016 and 2020 is running again. She got 36.8% of the vote in 2020. The registration will be even more overwhelmingly D following redistricting. In other words, they’re terrified of Harris winning the seat, not concerned about losing the seat. Why? Because they’ve never been closer to losing power, and they know it. So, for that matter, is the Delaware Chamber of Commerce, which is foursquare behind Harris’ primary opponent.
4. Our PAL Val Gets A Legit Opponent–Except…: He’s a Republican. His name is Michael Higgin. He ran in 2020 and got less than 31% of the vote. Now take a few moments to listen to him, then ask yourselves the same question I did–why is he an R? To me, he sounds like someone who would give the Police Athletic League’s fave incumbent a tussle in a primary:
https://www.facebook.com/94.7WDSD/videos/michael-higgin-is-running-for-the-15th-district-in-delaware-here-is-his-platform/347965409756764/
5. Proud Of My 7th RD Committee. We took a vote and unanimously decided not to contribute one red cent to the campaign of ‘Proud to be yer’ Bud Freel. Members cited two reasons: the lack of diversity of the 4th RD, and the lack of transparency of the process. The least, the least, the so-called Party leaders who ran the event could have done was to reveal the voting result for each candidate. But they didn’t. I’m telling you, the current Party leadership, from John Daniello’s daughter on down, is totally uninspiring. It’s not leadership, it’s followership–what do Tom, Chris, John and Lisa want? The rank-and-file don’t matter.
What’d I miss, and whaddayathink?
I know the guy that made that motion. Also, there are lots of African American real estate professionals in Kent County that can be mobilized to counter the Chamber fave and boost Kerri.
All hands on deck for that Harris primary.
Bucchioni is an amateur and a joke. (Have you seen the pop-up person on his website who rants at you about voting rights while gesturing uncomfortably? It’s hilarious.)
So the potential Gov primary field right now would be …
Meyer
Hall-Long
O’Mara
Jennings
McBride
For LG:
Navarro
Davis
Missing anyone?
I’d be surprised if there was not a Black candidate for governor.
Sherry Dorsey Walker is likely running for LG.
I doubt that Sarah McBride would run for Governor, I think it’s more likely she runs for Congress if Lisa runs for Carper’s seat, which I think is likely.
The only serious Gov candidates seem to be:
Meyer
Hall-Long
Jennings
Personally, i feel if Jennings gets in she cleans up.
As for LG, not sure why people want that? Like why would Navarro or Davis want to leave being executives of agengies where they make more money for a useless position like DE LTG
LTG is the Sarlacc pit. Even Matt Denn couldn’t escape it with any momentum. The days of mediocrities like Castle taking a knee while they wait for something to open up are over.
It used to be that LG was next in line. Markell beat Carney, and that broke the mold.
BHL is more peripatetic than Carney (who isn’t?), but she’ll have to do it on her own. Don’t think she can, although DEEE could well have a point. If progressives/liberals/non-Delaware Way folks split their votes, we could be stuck with Bethany.
Although…outside a coterie of true believers from the conservationist community, I don’t know how much grassroots support O’Mara would start out with.
I would consider Navarro and Davis to be pretty big mediocrities.
Ryan Peters probably looks to be the favorite in that race. Both him and his wife are very community focused people, his wife is a small business owner, he’s a family guy with enough energy to run a proper race.
Wait, Ryan Peters of RISE is running as a *Democrat*? The guy who donated $600 each to Smyk and Lopez in the last election?
He’s a fire company and fitness bro and a libertarian nut. (Someone should check on his voter registration history – it would not surprise me if he was a registered L at one point.)
He also appears to have donated to the RNC, the NRCC, Bill Roth, Gary Johnson, Brett Wangen, the Libertarian Party of Illinois, and the Libertarian National Committee (sez opensecrets.org).
He has never donated to a Democrat.
This asshole’s campaign needs to get torpedoed right now.
Y’know, AA, something tells me you might, just MIGHT be trolling us.
Your track record here is, um, undistinguished.
I had no idea of his donations, I just know of his community work. I did not claim to know his politics.
As for my record here, I suppose that’s a matter of opinion…
No, it’s also a matter of having something to back up offhand positions.
Feel free to read this and ask yourself–does THIS person have a commendable record of community work?:
https://russhuxtable.com/about-russ-2/
I put the links, ALL the relevant links I can find, in here for a reason.
The 6th Democratic Senate Primary is getting interesting (The Republicans are having difficulty finding a candidate) with the entry of Peters. Peters is seen as “a nice guy” and is the owner of a local gym. However, he is strongly pro-gun, which is a loser position is a Democratic Primary, and he touts the “mentoring” he says he is receiving from Republican Lopez. Bucchioni looked to pick up support from supporters of Mitch Crane when Crane was redistricted out. However, Bucchioni continues to blow up at people who criticize him and he shot himself in the foot when he launched a personal blindside at Russ Huxtable at a 20th RD meeting last week. That leaves Huxtable. Huxtable’s display of strong progressive values and his work outside of politics on affordable housing issues are resulting in growing support from a not-usually-aligned coalition of people on progressive “middle” and the very progressive “left”. It should be mentioned that former Senator Dave McBride is still thinking of running.
McBride literally has NO constituency in SD 6. It’s pathetic if he’s even considering a run.
OMara getting in the race be great for BHL and bad news for Meyer
Meyer and OMara both try to outproggresive each other while BHL locks up SNCC, Kent, and Sussex Dems for the win.
Bucchioni seems like a nice guy. Met him a few times, but one of those many Delaware Dems who seems to like the attention of running for office more then being a serious legislator.
That is the impression I got from Bucchioni as well, I especially detested the fact before redistricting he said his was running for the “Senate coastal district” which tells ya he was gonna run anywhere he was placed anyway
Dear Sussex Worker:
Hello hope all is well
Yup, I just read your opinion, here is my once and done response of the rest of the story until the next debate.:
Sounds like you are not voting for me, as you already told me a while ago, my loss got it. Say hello to your co- “ghost writer” for me as usual.
The thought occurred to me, outing your real name would explain a lot to DL readers and fill in the blanks positively for my side. However, I do enjoy reading this blog as most of the contributors are well versed Democrats (Not all as trolls will keep popping up.) I do enjoy and view this when I have the time. I will, respectfully, follow the DL rules and not do that for now Letting you maintain your Mr. Hyde spin anonymously.
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Re: RD20, meeting comment, Interesting. I note many of my opponent’s campaign loyalist were present that night so ….. Given you as his campaign surrogate I’ll address this below to you and see him at the next debate:
Re: The “Candidate Forum” that night: my turn came and I merely asked 2 allowed questions within the “Candidate’s Forum”, given rules. I do stand on my questions and delivery; contribution came in right from the floor within 5 min. It appeared to me, attendees asked much tougher questions of him, but that’s just me . Nice try at spin, but, I’m satisfied with the forum and results. I did Acknowledge and accepted his words with caution, i.e. my opponent presented that he and his company were experts in Affordable Housing in Sussex County. Yes, I have researched much as few have ever vetted his side being new to the race. Now the lens and fact checking light come on.
Yes, I waited, then asked my 2 questions when it was my turn.
1). Paraphrasing my question one was: Given the above is true and you are the COO of Milford Housing Development Corporation, Please explain why on CharityNavagator.org the (public charity non-profit watchdog site) why your companies 65 of 100 numerical rating was a failing grade. As a control comparative, I offered Habitat for Humanity 93 of 100 and Delaware First State 87 0f 100 also in affordable house in Sussex County. Please explain.
2) Is it true, there is also a profit making part of you and your company?
Not hard questions in my experience for a Candidate sitting in a “Candidate’s Forum” I’ve seen in Sussex County. He was doing the answering from there. His story to tell not mine.
John “Jack” Bucchioni
Delaware State Candidate for The Coastal Senate 6 seat
For the record, Jack, you have never met me. We have never exchanged a single word. I can’t vote for you because I don’t live in your district.
I’ll let the rest of your post stand by itself as proof of your qualifications and approach to the job you’re seeking.
Sorry, I misread and thought you were replying to me.
Jack: It’s February. The primary is in September. Does it really make sense to go negative this early?
And the answers you got were…?
Noting, let’s not forget the real tragedy is what going on in the Ukraine, , very troubling to watch the news. History repeating it self.
Dear Sussex Watcher, Interesting, I didn’t know you and I were talking or that I addressed you today, must have missed it. But I know of your anonymous alias posts from DL past, see below. Perhaps you need to get off the sidelines and make a difference. Are you a Republican? Dixiecrat? Dino? lurking? One may never know.
Yes, I stand on my post using my real name always. You should as well.
Yes, folks, get to know “Sussex Watcher”. Let’s share a few of the past hit parade insult quotes from “Sussex Watcher” (Anonymous Troll) on Delaware Liberal below.
Please consider the source of this anonymous “expert” on Sussex County as never being a “a self proclaimed voice of Sussex County”. With the thousands of new property owners flooding in the current landscape current day may not be in Sussex Watcher’s comfort zone, hence the “Troll bad actor behavior” is getting old and less relevant. Some “Sussex Watcher” quote from the past examples:
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Quotes From The Past:
“And the pathetic group that are the Sussex Democrats have yet to put up a candidate for Sam Wilson’s seat. That’s got to be the easiest race for someone to win, and they’re giving it away – along with Vincent’s seat. Ed O’Connor, Jane Hovington, etc., ought to be ashamed”.
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“Wow. Temko may be a progressive, but he’s also a punk kid with an overly large ego, based upon this statement”.
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“Dude, even if this was just meant for your friends and supporters, you come across like a Class A douchenozzle”.
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“So sorry that you’ve lost your reading comprehension abilities over the years. And I’m not demonizing, just calling a self-important nitwit a self-important nitwit”.
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To Mitch: “this waiting-until-after-the-deadline crap is just so much bullshit and a reflection on the incompetence that has reigned at the top of the Sussex Democrats for so many years. The chairmanship has gone from Seaford to Bridgeville to the coast without any discernible change. We’re always last and almost always losers”.
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“Incoherent AND a douchenozzle! Seriously, what the hell does that mean? No one talks like that. No one. Utter nonsense”.
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Jack, I stand by every criticism of the Sussex County Democratic Party leadership that I have ever made. Thanks for highlighting their incompetence! Their track record is laughable. Everyone knows it, no one’s willing to say it. They haven’t won a non-incumbent race in years. Jane Hovington is a self-promoting conservaDem. Greg Fuller, the vice-chair elected on her slate – another multiple-race loser – just switched parties to run as a Republican.
The Sussex Dems should be listed as giving the Sussex GOP an in-kind contribution.
And I’m so pleased that you’re taking time away from campaigning to come on this blog attacking keyboard crusaders. Russ Huxtable is going to cheerfully wipe the floor with you and Libertarian Muscle Man.
SussexWatcher:
My last comment to you as one who hides behind an alias name; I heard your dog whistle loud and clear. You said “Crusaders”, You really did said “Crusaders”.
Regardless of implied meaning, You might be reminded DL readers or constituents may not be Christians. Not a very “Liberal” or sensitive use of an inflammatory word to many.
Shades Of George Bush famous quotes that negatively amplified the situation after 911.
Apology accepted.
I notice you have time for long, self-aggrandizing posts but you didn’t have time to answer my question, so let me make this really, really plain for you, since you don’t seem too swift on the uptake:
This site doesn’t exist so grandstanding candidates can cast aspersions on their foes. The “questions” you asked Mr. Huxtable have answers, which you did not provide, allowing you to air your smears without context. If this is an indication of how you. behave, you’re doing an excellent job of demonstrating that you are the wrong person for the job.
The second, more egregious turd you just dropped is the bullshit about identify politics. There are a lot of assholes out there who think that playing that game makes one “progressive” or “liberal.” It doesn’t. It makes you a pandering asshole. Take it somewhere else, you phony.
You are a dickhair away from getting your dumb ass banned from the site, so answer the question I asked or hit the bricks.
Alby says:
February 26, 2022 at 8:28 am
And the answers you got were…?
If this is your question you are waiting on….
Answer; still waiting for a direct answer to the questions, will advise.
C’mon. I didn’t ask “what were his direct answers?” What did he answer when you asked the questions? And did you bother researching these questions yourself?
@Freedom: You have shit for brains. Why prove it?
OK, you’re officially listed under “dumb as shit” in my book. Good luck with your joke of a campaign and even more amateurish website.
By the way, if you’d bothered to look at the CharityNavigator details on MHDC, you’d see that it has a relatively low ranking because it didn’t respond to 3 out of 4 categories, not because it was scored low. The CEO and board presumably have more important things to do with their time at the moment. (Russ is neither one of those, FYI.)
At least with your grandstanding, we really do get to see the depth of your ignorance.
Dear SussexWatcher, cutting to the chase on your last:
Nice try on your explanation why CharityNavigator.org rating for MDHC is so low, albeit, your defensiveness is excused for your loyalty.
Sticking to the empirical at hand instead of rhetoric look at the filed numbers and filing date of the IRS 990 deadline, they need explaining by Russ not you, his story to directly explain as a candidate. I am sure he will regroup and explain an acceptable answer. That needs to be provided as I’m not the only one wanting this addressed and vetted.
Read it again and the 990 filed with the IRS, which are provided they support questioning. Look at the numbers filed by the company; the scoring is based on those and, if, missing, certainly a company would move quickly to make sure the numbers back up the public PR.
For a comparison Look at the Sussex County Habitat For Humanity in the same areas they scored a 93 out of 100.
These are routine public questions that need to be answered as non profits are also accountable. Particularly for someone running for State Senate being a Senior officer of the company for over 18 years
FYI, Russ is the Chief Operating Officer and an officer of the company itself. His story to tell and answer since he is running for office.
You lazy bastard. Do your own oppo research instead of demanding he explain it.
You and Mitch belong together. You’re right, Democratic politics down there is much different, I guess because there’s so little at stake. That’s why it’s a fucking clown show.
Don’t bother coming back in September.
You’re serious, right? Sussex Watcher needs no defending. You do, but you’re not deserving of it. ‘Out-of-context’ doesn’t even begin to describe how you’ve used the quotes. If you think that relying on the support of either Jane Hovington or Mitch Crane (were you to get it) is gonna boost your candidacy, just take a look at their respective track records, not only for losing, but for failing to recruit credible candidates. Although, Mitch, at least, talked a good game. Too bad it was a con game.
Sussex Watcher has provided more legit information for this blog than pretty much any of our readers out there. You have provided self-aggrandizing bullshit. I suppose we COULD ban you, but every one of your posts is just another dagger in the heart of your candidacy.
El Somnambulo,
Noted, although, for the record, I agree with you I can’t count on support from either Jane Hovington or Mitch Crane per your comment, so be it. It’s a primary with Democratic Party candidates against each other at this point.
I do have to add my disagreement; I have the highest respect for both working with Jane and Mitch in the past. Mitch has helped me a great deal. The fact that he competed against me and supports my opponent, I say “Ain’t that America”.
Even If Mitch would have beat me in the primary, I would have voted for him in the general, he is a decent man and get’s it most of the time. Yes, he does run a fierce campaign to be respected, I’m on the receiving end of that. We both play to win.
Sorry to disagree with you, serious comment, not pandering, and no they don’t need me to defend them.
You are wrong on them. Sussex Is not above the canal politics, a different paradigm entirely. I’m Signing off till September as the voters will decide from Coastal Sussex County. We will see.
Good idea.
Fuck O-Mara and any Markell crony who tries to reenter DE politics. NO NO NO.
I boycotted the DE Green Drinks event in January as they tried to give O’Mara a local platform for Climate Change discussion – What a joke. HIs DNREC approval was why Delaware City successfully entered into their Ft. duPont boondoggle that violated every tenet of good planning, flooding precaution, and fair land use – even took public lands to do this development on DE River marshlands.
DITTO for COONS cronys and that includes Matt Meyer. Step off statewide politics.
This seems like a needlessly restrictive basis for deciding who to support, but you do you.
I took the weekend off. I’m glad to see everyone’s doing well.