The Occasional Delaware Political Weekly: August 14, 2023
1. Great Challenger Files Against, Wait For It–Bill Bush! I’ve always sensed that Bush was more or less installed in that position by Delaware Way movers and shakers, led by Lonnie George. You’ll recall that Bush was the guy on the Del-Tech board who sunk the career educator the Board had nominated to succeed George. You know, so that career non-educator Mark Brainard could get the job, just as Lonnie wanted:
Hoy showed some concerns as to whether he would be able to weave his way into Delaware and the college’s political circles, according to emails sent by Hoy and obtained by The Daily Times of Salisbury, Maryland, through the Freedom of Information Act.
“One of the nay votes is an attorney for the Legislature, which speaks to the concern of swaying the legislators,” the email continues. “The other is Lonnie’s [George] best friend, which speaks to Lonnie’s continuing influence.”
“The chair[man] told me that he asked for a unanimous vote when it was clear that I would be the selection, but the other two wouldn’t relent,” the email reads.
The two “nay” votes came from board members William Bush and John M. Maiorano, Stellini said. Bush has served as an attorney for both the Delaware House of Representatives and the governor’s office.
An insider who found his way into office thanks to his well-placed pals. Including Lonnie George, and Pete ‘n Val, who hired Bush as staff attorney. He has been an impediment to progressive legislation ever since, and has been given far too much power by the House Kop Kabal.
Well, we’re gonna get to see who the voters want in office this time. That’s because Monica Shockley-Porter has filed her committee, and will likely face Bush in a primary. I met her at a candidate training session, and she’s spectacular! She is the Public Relations Specialist for the Capital School District. She is my kind of grassroots activist as she is the Advocacy Chair for the Fund For Women, Treasurer for Network Delaware, Recording Secretary for the National Coalition of 100 Black Women, and a board member of the Delaware Local Journalism Initiative. You will love her!
As you can likely tell, she has already developed strong grassroots alliances in her district and in Delaware. This race immediately lands near the top of the list of progressive priorities for 2024. As soon as her website is up, I’ll update this. If you live in the Dover area, this is the House race you’ll want to volunteer for.
2. Collin O’Mara Running For Governor? I’m asking b/c I’ve gotten a couple of hints to that effect from our Tip Line. The former DNREC Secretary looks the part of a youthful Kennedyesque politico, and he has prioritized environmental issues in his current role as president and CEO of the National Wildlife Federation. I, for one, would willingly consider his candidacy as I remain ambivalent about both BHL and Matt Meyer, although I’m looking forward to meeting one of those candidates this week. I know Collin has both supporters and detractors on this board. What do you think?
3. Serial Candidate Files For Lt. Governor. In fairness, that could hold true for both Sherry Dorsey Walker and Debbie Harrington as well. In this case, the candidate is David Lamar Williams, Jr. You may (not) recall his primary challenge to John Carney in 2020. That’s because his theme was:
“Governor [John] Carney’s doing a good job,” said David Lamar Wiliams Jr., a gubernatorial candidate looking to take on incumbent Carney in the Democratic primary. “I think we could do a little bit better though.”
Seems like a real decent guy. Got 15% in that race. Truth to tell, I probably voted for him (against Carney). And hey, if he has a compulsion to run for office, why not?
That’s all I’ve got. What’d I miss, and whaddayathink?
I hear rumors, many of them trial balloons, most false, some come to fruition.
Hearing that YET ANOTHER fantastic State Senator is considering a run for Lt. Governor.
I have but one, OK, two words: PLEASE DON’T. (A) We need you in the Senate. (B) There’s potentially another office opening up in 2026 for which you’d be extremely well-suited.
Well, that was a pretty easy one to deduce. I agree.
Really? I thought it was cloaked in mystery…
SO SO Happy to see a challenger against Bush.
He also sponsored some developer bills they tried to push through Leg Hall. This guy is a waste and Dem in name only for his own advantage.
Where do i donate??
As soon as her site’s up, I’ll provide a link.
for got to add
Collin O’Mara be a boost for BHL and a death blow for Meyer.
Two younger DC ties trust fund kids would split their base.
BHL becomes Governor.
There’s a base of trust fund kids now? I. Did. Not. Know. That.
It’s even more elemental than that: Two white men about the same age, same centrist cred, similar amounts of baggage, vs. one woman.
Does O’Mara even live in Delaware? Didn’t his wife run for governor in Maryland and lose?
Yes she did. I think he’s ‘maintained a residence’ in Delaware.
I’m, so far, disappointed that no one has decided to challenge Lisa Darrah for Clerk of the Peace in NCC. The job is fairly easy and pays the most of every row office.
You’ll recall that Darrah was Ken Boulden’s hand-picked successor when he claimed that he was running for reelection and then showed up with Lisa at 11:50 on the last day to file (must file by noon). He withdrew his name and she filed.
Boulden flat-out lied to several people to set this up and Lisa was part of that conspiracy.
I’m just happy that several good candidates have already decided to jump in more than a year out from the primary. Including some who are in, but haven’t announced yet…
Uh, how much does that Clerk Of The Peace position pay and, asking for a friend, could someone hypothetically serve in the position and STILL blog for Delaware Liberal?
$100K+
I was told “Ken works Wednesday”. No idea on Lisa’s schedule.
I’m in.
And I’ll promise to serve only one term.
You’ll have to get by me in a primary…12 years of joking with customers at Trader Joe’s should have helped me build SOME good will.
I kid, I kid. (I think.)
Primary voters should consist of any surviving members of the BLL board of directors. (Yeah, you’d probably win.)
I dunno. ‘Umpire-In-Chief’ is not generally the most popular position on the board…
The office is not up until 2026
I believe you’re mistaken. Darrah was elected in 2020.
Election is in fact ,2024
Ok my bad I guess the other row offices are not then
I thought you were correct. Man, these election cycles just never stop–cycling…
I think half the row offices are up every 2 years.
Interesting about O’Mara. I think it would be so easy to question his ties to Delaware given that Krish was a Dem candidate for Maryland Governor 2018. I’m not someone who needs to support a lifelong
Delawarean, but it’s a little recent for my taste. Plenty of options down the ballot…
He has no base of support. Even if he can raise money, there’s nowhere to spend it that will make a difference in a Delaware race.
So basically one can’t win a race in one state so they move to another and try to pull the same stunt, duping voters into thinking they’ve been bona fide members of the community.
He didn’t run in Maryland, his wife did. He DID serve as DNREC Secretary here in Delaware.
I’m getting troll vibes, perhaps it’s just me.
No, what I meant was it seems to me that she couldn’t win in Maryland, so now they come to DE. Seems like office shopping to me…
He’s the head of the National Wildlife Federation. It would only make sense that he’d be close to the nation’s capital.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not supporting him–especially since, if true, the person purportedly doing his ‘day-to-day political work’ is someone who I think is a total joke. Said person will be familiar to Delawareans. And, um, Long Islanders of a certain vintage.
Are that person’s initials RK?
Since I don’t know for sure, I’d only be going by one anonymous tipster’s, um, tip.
Wasn’t RK DEW’s campaign manager in 2018 for auditor?
Yikes! Wouldn’t doubt it. He was Mitch Crane’s top advisor in that disaster of a campaign for Insurance Commissioner.
What’s that saying? ‘Home is where you go when nobody else will take you in.’
Richard Korn (and, to be fair, Vince D’Anna) is where you go when no self-respecting campaign manager wants any part of you.