1. Carney Endorses Eugene Young. The two questions are (1) Why?, and (2) What impact will it have?
The consensus on the board is that the ‘why’ is that Carney just doesn’t feel comfortable with Sarah because, you know. Perhaps he should, you know, have coffee with her. She’ll have coffee, and has had coffee, with just about everybody. No doubt even Carney. I understand that John struggles to overcome his fear of cooties, but it’s never too late for some personal growth. Besides, perhaps some of her empathy will rub off on him.
Others think Carney endorsed Young because he’s seeking the support of Black voters for his Wilmington mayoral run. I’m sure that figures into it.
I think there’s another reason, though. ‘Jealousy’ would be too profound an emotion to attribute to Carney. So, I’ll just go with ‘pettiness’. Fact is, McBride has accomplished more in her short time in Dover than Carney has throughout his entire career. Paid medical and family leave, an initiative that Carney didn’t support, was a McBride accomplishment in spite of Carney. $100 mill in new Medicaid funding, a recent McBride success, was accomplished with no help from the Carney Administration. Gee, you’d think he’d dispatch his peripatetic ‘health professional’ Lt. Governor to at least talk. He didn’t, she didn’t do it on her own, making it a rare photo with BHL not even there to hog the camera’s spotlight. Think of it–$100 mill for Medicaid, and this administration had absolutely nothing to do with it. Quick: Name me one admirable signature accomplishment of the Carney Administration. I’ll wait.
As to the impact of the endorsement–it will have next to none on the Congressional primary. McBride has built a juggernaut of a campaign, she’s gonna win handily. I legitimately feel bad for Eugene, he just picked the wrong race at the wrong time against the wrong candidate. He’s now gonna have to clean off ‘Carney stench’ for future runs. Those who called Eugene a ‘transformational figure’ may reconsider their enthusiasm. Carney doesn’t endorse ‘transformational’ progressives. The remaining question: What impact will it have on the Mayoral race? I think, at best, a wash for Carney, perhaps a negative. He may attract more Black voters. However, he may lose white progressive voters, and there are a lot of them in Wilmington. Many of them live in Sarah’s 1st Senatorial District, including Carney himself. They are among the best informed and most politically active voters in the state. They, um, won’t be happy. I wish there were a progressive alternative in the mayor’s race. There’s still time.
2. Dennis E. Williams’ Pathological Need To Run For Office. Dennis, I’m serious. You’re one of the last politicians standing who seemingly can’t resist running for something, anything, virtually every election cycle. I want to know what motivates you and others of your, wait for it, ilk. Yes, I understand the ‘blind squirrel finds a nut’ theory that anyone can get elected given the right situation. You proved it. Putting you in the same dubious position as Karen Weldin Stewart and Karen Hartley-Nagle. Singularly undeserving candidates who enjoy a moment or two in the sun. But it’s been a long time since you held office, and all you’ve succeeded in doing since is to ensure the election of Kathy McGuiness by serving as a spoiler in that three-way contest for Auditor. I’ve detected no groundswell of demand for your return to the electoral stage. Please share why you are incapable of simply stepping away. I’m serious. Either that, or will your brain to science. Oh, why did I write this? Because Williams has filed his committee to run for the RD 10 seat currently held by Sean Matthews, who is expected to retire. Melanie Ross Levin has already filed for the seat as well.
3. They’re Still Going After Eric Morrison. This time, with a charter school principal, one Margie Lopez Waite in an RD 27 D primary. A Charter School true believer, she transformed a school dedicated to public safety jobs (the exact kind of charter school which shouldn’t exist) into Las Américas ASPIRA Academy in Newark. Here’s a glowing portrait of her in ‘Charter Folk’. Morrison has become one of the most effective progressive legislators in Dover. He also does a great job on constituent services. As inspiring as Waite’s resume may be, the last thing we need in Dover is yet another Charter School advocate.
4. Oh, No! Lumpy’s Running Again. Quite simply, Bill Carson is a horrible legislator, arguably the least capable Democratic legislator. Word was, he was retiring. Because he’s been a lickspittle for the Kop Kabal House leadership, he’s been given powerful assignments for which he is unworthy, and has used those positions to do the bidding of Pete ‘n Val. This is bad news. However, he is eminently beatable in the overwhelmingly Democratic 28th RD. He’s lazy. Can’t be beat if nobody runs, though. Anyone running?
That’s all I’ve got this week. What’d I miss, and whaddayathink?