I could do #’s 5, 6 and 7 in pretty much any order. We’re talking three absolutely abysmal incumbents with no (so far) challengers, either announced or rumored. I’ve ordered them from those doing (IMO) the least damage to those doing the most damage. They, all, however, have done significant damage.
Career hack Stephanie Bolden leads off this Rogue’s Gallery. Always in it just for the paycheck, which, BTW, she briefly augmented with a no-show job with Wilmington City Council, she went from being a hand-to-mouth fundraiser to raking in big bucks in 2022. Why? Because of her single-handed, and temporarily successful, killing of legislation protecting renters’ rights. Pretty much every member of Buccini/Pollin corporate, the Buccini/Pollin families, and other assorted big-time rental entities, flung cash at Steph. She spent little. Gee, where do you suppose the rest of that money went?
You might think that Bolden would have been chastened by a primary challenger in 2022. You would be incorrect. Although she finally voted yes on the renters’ right to representation bill this session, (a) it only came after she buried it first in the House Housing Committee last session, and burying it again in the Appropriations Committee. This year, she went ‘not voting’ (same as a no vote) on HS1/HB 191(Dorsey Walker), which gives tenants the right to withhold rental payments in escrow when landlords fail to keep properties habitable. The bill passed with only one vote to spare. Please keep in mind that RD 2 likely had more renters who would have benefited from those protections than pretty much any other district in the state. Bolden is now a completely out-of-touch legislator who merely does the bidding of her financial benefactors.
Oh, the district? Here’s the map. I think that the entire residential population of the district is within the City of Wilmington limits. The registration is ridiculous: 11,912 D; 1440 R; 3496 I.
Bolden has been one of Pete ‘n Val’s go-to anti-progressive legislators. That’s why she’s been ensconced on the Joint Finance Committee, along with another plausibly-human rain delay in the form of Lumpy Carson, for years. She doesn’t do anything w/o their permission.
She was primaried two years ago by someone totally unsuitable to serve in the General Assembly. His name was James Taylor, who spewed anti-LGBTQ rhetoric. He got 37.9% which, when you consider that he made himself completely toxic, does not reflect favorably on Bolden. Especially since his toxicity ensured he would get no assistance from the progressive grassroots.
You would think that the people who live here would demand better. Unfortunately, many of them have either settled for mediocre or downright unethical representation for seemingly forever.
The usual (good) suspects tried mightily to recruit a progressive challenger in 2022. I honestly don’t know why a community leader, any community leader, of some stature hasn’t stepped forward. Until/unless that happens, I guess the residents of the 2nd RD will get the government they deserve. Bought and paid for by Buccini/Pollin.