Two ‘occasional’ political weekly pieces in the same week? Yes. The main reason? Item #1:
1. Something Stinks In Newark. Hmmm, is it the unmistakable smell of cop donuts and Babe Ruth League canteen hot dogs? Yep, we’re talking Pete ‘n Val stench. How else to explain the newly-filed candidate committee of one Michael A. Smith? He has filed as a Democrat in the 21st RD to face Frank Burns, who came within an eyelash of defeating Mike Ramone in 2022. He presents himself as a progressive, raising the question: Why is he running? I spoke with him Wednesday, and still have no idea what the raison d’etre for his candidacy is. I also have no idea who he really is. He has shared nothing about what he did before he came to Delaware, where he came from, and, for that matter, whether his real name is Michael A. Smith.
Michael–feel free to come on here and fill in these blanks: Why are you running? Where did you come from? What did you do before you came here?
Here’s what little we know. He’s only recently moved to Newark and has no roots there. Doesn’t appear he lived in Delaware prior to settling in Newark. He is a staffer for the House Democratic Caucus. Now, bear with me here. We’re talking about caucus leadership that has fired dozens of staffers, many for, at best dubious reasons. But here’s a guy who’s gonna take a leave of absence in an election year to primary a Democrat who is well-positioned to take out Mike Ramone, and Pete ‘n Val encourage him to go forth with their approval? I don’t buy it, not for a minute. I think they want Smith to (a) either damage Burns’ candidacy, and/or (b) to pave the way for yet a third primary opponent of the cop or construction union ilk.
He did a lot, a lot, of name-dropping of caucus members during our talk, implying that he has their support. I don’t think he does, except perhaps for Pete ‘n Val. Michael, if you care to share those who have endorsed you, please share. Also, please share why you would be a preferable alternative to Frank Burns. Otherwise, it would be in the interest of the progressive policies you purport to support for you to step aside and perhaps become Val’s #1 staffer. Until she fires you.
2. Marty Rendon Announces–And He’s Spec-TAC-ular. He’s not overqualified. He merely brings tremendous credentials to the General Assembly:
Commissioner Marty Rendon of the Delaware Human and Civil Rights Commission today announced his candidacy for the 14th Representative District. Rendon has served on the Commission for four years and is Chair of the Commission’s Legislative Committee.
Prior to his commission service, he ran Congressional relations for UNICEF in Washington for 25 years and worked on Capitol Hill in a variety of legislative positions, including serving on the staff of the House Rules Committee for eight years. He also was Staff Director of the House Select Committee on Hunger.
I had the opportunity to meet Marty during interview sessions for progressive candidates. I simply can’t believe that someone with, not just his credentials, but his empathy and command of the issues, could actually replace Speaker Pete in the General Assembly. I’m all in. Hope that you are as well. If so, head on over here, and show some love with a donation.
3. MY Choice For Governor…: In the end, it was not a difficult decision. In fact, it made itself. We had heard from Bethany Hall Long at a recent RD 7 Committee meeting, and we had the chance to ask her questions. Just this past week, I had the chance to see and hear Matt Meyer at a Meet The Candidate event in Arden. The event was really well-organized and very well-attended, with virtually all the attendees from the Ardens. We had the chance to ask Matt questions as well. After hearing from both of them and hearing how they responded to questions, there’s just no comparison. Matt Meyer is my choice for Governor.
BHL responded to our questions (which included how to deal with retired state employees, budget smoothing, and her priorities) in a circuitous manner–long responses which, if you weren’t paying close attention, could mean that she agreed with you, or didn’t agree with you. I could only conclude afterwards that the lack of transparency of her answers was deliberate. She is a very smart woman, and the answers were, IMO, well-rehearsed, but totally lacking in substance.
In contrast, Matt’s responses were specific, he criticized the lack of transparency in government, and cited some of the ‘big ideas’ he’d implemented as County Executive. I know that some, including our blinkered Governor, were pissed off that Matt got his hands on Covid relief money. To them, all I can do is to ask: What the fuck would Carney have done with those dollars? Would he have acquired a ghost hotel to address the problem of homelessness? Would he have contracted with mental health professionals to ride along with police to defuse potential dangerous situations? Would he have started a training program to teach coding skills to under-served youth? Answer: He wouldn’t, and he didn’t. I suspect that he was pissed off because Matt made him look bad. Carney didn’t just look bad, he’s simply been a bad governor. Terrible, in fact.
BHL gave us nothing to suggest that she would deviate much from the Delaware Way script she’d be inheriting from her predecessors. Matt gave us chapter-and-verse. In a contest between the head cheerleader and the high school nerd student council president, give me the nerd.
That’s all I’ve got. What’d I miss, and whaddayathink?