DL Presents: Our MVP’s For 2025

‘MVP’ standing for ‘Most Valuable To The Progressive Cause’ in Delaware.  This is my list.  Your lists would undoubtedly differ.  Although–I read all of your suggestions and, in some cases, incorporated your nominees onto the list.

Two of the entries this year identify people who also serve as proxies for those who have joined them in doing essential work.  We’ll start with them:

10.  Kirsten Walther:  One of the driving forces behind Network Delaware, she works tirelessly on behalf of building a responsive and responsible progressive movement.  She’s the Project Coach of Network Delaware. She has been especially involved with the HOMES Campaign, which works on humane housing initiatives, NOCAP, which addresses police violence in Dover, and CEDP, which works to end inequitable treatment of those returning to society after incarceration.  I first met Kirsten during Kerri Evelyn Harris’ campaign for Senate.  She not only does an incredible amount of good, she does it while staying pretty much behind the scenes.

9.  Paola Subervi:  Profiled in this story by José Ignacio Castañeda Perez,  Paola Subervi exemplifies the kind of people who quietly do everything they can to assist and champion those who the Trump Administration has singled out for persecution:

Subervi has become an expert at navigating the intricacies of the new reality that many immigrants in Maryland and southern Delaware find themselves in — often alone and unsure of what to do in the face of intense federal enforcement. Her renowned wherewithal on these processes — finding people, towing cars, managing WhatsApp groups — has become indispensable to many. 

Subervi now finds herself on the front lines of confronting the aftermath of the Trump administration’s immigration agenda, which has ensnared veterans, students and even U.S. citizens. The crackdown has forced people underground, with many immigrants scared to leave their homes as federal enforcement has taken place outside of grocery stores, gas stations and on the side of the road.  

Subervi has gained a reputation along the lines of, “If you can’t find someone, call Paola,” according to one Salisbury, Md, resident who asked to remain anonymous out of fear of immigration enforcement.

If she doesn’t know how to help, she will learn.

“You do whatever needs to be done to help,” Subervi said. 

There is no better mission statement for responding to this crisis than “You do whatever needs to be done to help.”

8.  Rep. Madinah Wilson-Anton:  This year, mostly for ridding the Christina School Board of Our Man In Pakistan.  Also for subtly but clearly pointing out the lack of integrity at the core of Speaker Minor-Brown’s railroading through of the Musk/Zuckerberg legislation.

7.  Reps. Sophie Phillips and Frank Burns:  They tried to make the Musk/Zuckerberg legislation better.  Their amendments would have done so.  But the fix was in.  Speaker Minor-Brown prevented their witnesses from testifying while Rep. Krista Griffith just repeated ‘This is an unfriendly amendment’ as code to the legislative lemmings to vote them down.  Phillips introduced two outstanding bills that, not coincidentally, have been held up.  Check out HB 135 and HB 132.  With more enlightened leadership, those bills would have been in the Senate’s hands by, say, June 1.  Burns passed one notable bill this session addressing power grid issues.  He has also introduced legislation addressing the proposed data centers.  That bill, which was introduced on June 30, is likely to be one of the most important ones of the upcoming legislative session.

6.  Shané Darby, Coby Owens, Christian Willauer.  The much-needed antidote to the bloodless corporatism that has infected city government and city politics for generations.  In other words, challengers to the long reign of Carney-esque dim bulbs, the Chamber, and Buccini-Pollin.  Effective advocates for the under-served and ignored, challengers to the Delaware Way insiderism that is perhaps best illustrated in the Gibraltar shenanigans.  They are also a counter-balance to the generally-undistinguished Wilmington delegation in Dover.  I hope that, someday, they all might be members of that delegation.  In one case, as early as next year.

5.  Rep. Larry Lambert.  My State Rep!  For successfully sponsoring and passing HB 210, which finally holds serial polluters accountable for their actions by creating escalating fines for their actions.  ‘In addition, this Act increases the amount of penalty funds directed to communities near facilities with violations… In addition, 40 percent, rather than 25 percent, of the civil and administrative funds collected under various environmental regulatory chapters will be appropriated to the Community Environmental Project Fund under § 6042 of Title 7. The Fund will give priority to community environmental projects located within a 2-mile radius of the violation or infraction.  

Lambert is especially skilled at forging bonds with legislators and community leaders alike.  He, along with Burns and Phillips, are among those who could serve as leaders in a more progressive caucus.

4.  NCC Councilman David Carter.  He is fighting the good fight against some of the most willfully-obstinate and, in some cases, corrupt elected officials in Delaware.  His well-thought-out proposals on data centers resonate with the public and are essential to protect both our water supply and, of course, utility costs.  He is up against a toxic mix of imminent retirees and people like Tim Sheldon, who only cares about his union guys.  As opposed to the people who live in his district.  If the Delaware City project gets built, it will likely not be the last one.  It, of course, won’t get built in Chateau Country, so Janet Kilpatrick doesn’t give two shits about the impact.  The arguments against Carter’s legislation, which he continually adjusts to address stated concerns are bullshit.  Especially the ‘we can’t change the rules because they submitted the proposal already’ excuse.  Nothing’s been built yet.  Meaning, now is the time to establish the rules.  The excuse is nothing but a fig leaf.  Anyway, Carter may soon have assistance from the Governor and the General Assembly.  Let’s stand with him.  He has the facts on his side.

3.  Rep. Eric Morrison.  Hands-down, the Legislator of the Year.  I was so wrong about him.  I feared that he might be someone who settled for publicity rather than someone who was willing to do the difficult legislative work.  I couldn’t have been more wrong.  He is, instead, an incredibly-inclusive and effective legislator.  He successfully sponsored and passed the End Of Life Options bill that Carney had vetoed.  Gov. Meyer signed it, and the long-time advocate for the bill, former Rep. Paul Baumbach, was there for the signing.  He also passed these worthy bills that have been signed into law:

HB 79.  HB 164.  HB 77.  HB 54 (Establishes an Office Of Suicide Prevention).  HB 37.  HB 36.

He also has at least two excellent bills that I hope get considered in the upcoming session:  HB 292.  HB 251.  Plus, if there’s a good bill that has been submitted, he is invariably on it as a co-sponsor.

Bonus points for all his volunteer work with the Food Bank Of Delaware.

2.  Attorney General Kathleen Jennings.  Nobody in Delaware has fought so consistently and effectively against the encroaching fascism of Donald Trump and his lackeys.  Filed suit after suit, some on her own, some with her like-minded AG’s who I would argue were the most relentless freedom fighters we had this year.  Here are but a few examples:

AG Joins Suit On H-1B Visa Petitions.

Jennings And Coalition Win Suit Blocking Musk Access To Sensitive Data.

Jennings And Coalition Sue To Release Funding For Survivors Of Domestic Violence And Other Violent Crimes.

Jennings And Coalition Win Suit To Release SNAP Benefits.

Jennings Joins Lawsuit To Protect Transgender Youth’s Access To Medically-Necessary Care.

Jennings Sues To Stop HUD Policy That Would Force More People Into Homelessness.

Jennings And Coalition Sue To Stop Federal Firings.

There are plenty more, and you can find them all online.  You may recall that Jennings’ 2022 R opponent was Julianne Murray.  Exactly how many of these suits do you suppose that she would have pursued?  Exactly.  None.  Jennings responded to the dangers of Trump the way you would hope all Delaware D elected officials would have responded to Trump’s destruction of American norms.

1.  Delaware’s Intrepid Journalists.  No not (just) because Truth Has A Progressive Bias.  We now have a high number of serious journalists who are shining a light on all of the often deliberately-hidden machinations of the Delaware Way.  The scribes have done far more than merely filling in the void that has been left by the collapse of legacy media, in Delaware, meaning Delaware Online.  They have advanced the cause of quality journalism despite national attempts to paint the news media as villains.  Outlets that did great work this year include Spotlight Delaware, WHYY, Delaware Public Media, Bay To Bay, CoastTV, Delaware Call, and The Cape Gazette.  

I especially want to salute the journalists who are ushering in a new Golden Era in Delaware news coverage:

Karl Baker, Cris Barrish, Jordan Howell, Brianna Hill, Joe Irizarry, Allison Taylor Levine, Olivia Marble, Julia Merola, Sarah Mueller, Madeleine Overturf, Jacob Owens, Jose Ignacio Castañeda Perez, Zoe Read, Maggie Reynolds, Nick Stonesifer.

I’m sure I’ve inadvertently left some great journalists off this list.  Please feel free to add them.  BTW, you will get to read a lot of their work in our annual “The Good, The Bad, The Ridiculous” opus appearing here on Jan. 1, 2026.  Links galore!

There you have it.  I’m sure you have strong opinions on this list.  Let’s hear ’em.