“We are kings of our bikes. So, we are again really lucky to live in Rehoboth, when we park a car, we have to get back into the car. We can hop on our bikes and our ritual is that we are always biking from our home to L(ewe)s. We do a little bit of walking around, a little bit of margarita, a little bit of good food – there’s amazing food then bike right back. So the ritual, on our bikes, every chance we can, any place we can go, and eliminate the cars.”–Dan Cruce.
1. John Atkins Finds G-d, and perhaps political salvation, in the bosom(s) of a Good Christian Woman.
I hear you naysayers, you non-believers, snickering out there. Do not count me amongst you. I truly believe that this man, who has long wandered in the spiritual wilderness, has finally made the journey from (allegedly) copping cheap feels at soft-core lingerie parties to yearning but to ‘touch the hem of His garment’ (no, not in that way, ya sickos). I believe this man has sincerely, profoundly, changed. So much so that any perceived sins should not be held against him as he is called to selflessly seek political office yet again, this time guided by the Lord…unless the AG decides otherwise.
I am so moved by his selfless motivation to serve that the Spirit has impelled me to pair this deeply-moving song with his sincere and humble missive. To fully partake of his powerful prose, please play this song while reading his words. Feel free to repeat the song if you read slowly:
It’s time we talk about the elephant in the room- my PAST.
I was in a marriage that eventually ended in divorce unfortunately like so many others. Heather and I have remained friends and great parents to our boys. From the start Heather has welcomed Jennifer Lea and I into her home many times. She is an awesome mother and a good person.
After my marriage ended, I got into a relationship that quickly became unhealthy. Many of my closest friends knew this but most in the public didn’t. I became good at putting on a smile and hiding it in public. My private life spiraled out of control and spilled into the public.
It’s possible that people get addicted in these bad relationships and I had a hard time finding my way out.
I paid the price for my actions, legally, financially, but most of all the embarrassment that I caused my boys, family and many of you. Let me be clear- I’m not proud of any of this. I was wrong.About 4 months ago when many of you started to urge me to run again, I was hesitant because of what happened almost 10 years ago. I wasn’t sure I wanted to relive that time in my life. My priority was to protect Jen and our boys through what was the lowest time in my life.
Jen has become my biggest supporter and I tell people all the time God used her to save me and show me that I’m still worthy, loved and part of this community.
She gave me the encouragement to get back in the ring and go another round because she has seen my passion to help others even after I left office.
I want to thank all of you from my kindergarten friends, people that influenced me while growing up here, my church community, to people I may have met yesterday, for the forgiveness and kind words that together we can do this. I’m so grateful for all of you that never gave up on me.
About 3 months ago I said to Jen, “If I’m going to ask people to forgive me, then I need to forgive people that I’m upset with”. Not for political gain (they don’t even live in the 41st) but I called them and we put the past behind us and decided to have lunch.
I know negative things are going to be said about me and our campaign. I’m not going to worry about that because I know where I’ve been and I know where I am now in my life. I’m at peace.
I still have that passion to serve you and together we will continue to get things done for our community.
This is my promise.
God Bless you,
John.
G-d bless you too, John.
2. Kira Alejandro Announces Her Candidacy. With one of the best intros I’ve read in recent years:
YORKLYN, DE – Community advocate and working-class Democrat Kira Alejandro has announced her candidacy to represent District 3 of New Castle County Council, which includes Pike Creek, Hockessin, North Star, Yorklyn, and parts of Newark.
If elected next fall, Alejandro would be the youngest member of County Council, at 30 years old, and would bring one of the strongest track records of community advocacy to the Council. As a Yorklyn resident in the northwest corner of the county, Alejandro has led the effort to prevent overdevelopment in the environmentally sensitive Yorklyn valley, which experienced disastrous flooding during Tropical Storm Henri in 2003 and which contains an underground aquifer that supplies millions of gallons of drinking water each year to New Castle County residents.
As a co-founder of the Yorklyn Community Association, Alejandro helped block a 6-story luxury condo building proposed next to Auburn Valley State Park, addressed a legal loophole that developers were exploiting, and helped secure a $6.4 million investment from the state to preserve 30 acres of open space in District 3.
“I’m running because too many Council Members have become complacent at a time when we need fearless leadership more than ever,” said Alejandro.
Like Council Member Dee Durham in her neighboring district, Alejandro is running to rein in the influence of real estate developers and to fight for more responsible land use. Her candidacy marks a clear break from incumbent Janet Kilpatrick, who has long been criticized for her close ties to developers.
To maintain her independence, Alejandro has pledged to reject campaign donations from developers, land use lawyers, corporations, and corporate PACs.
Alejandro is already enjoying a swell of grassroots support from concerned residents who have recognized her local leadership.
Sandra Finsel, a retired teacher and longtime District 3 resident, said, “Kira has been a powerful advocate for the community of Yorklyn, exploring every avenue to protect the interests of all of us who live here. Her ability to find solutions that no one else has considered is a valuable asset.”
Alejandro has also gained support from residents in other county council districts who have confronted the same developers, including Drake Cattermole, who bought the historic Gibraltar Mansion in Wilmington and let it fall into disrepair.
“We need strong, intelligent voices in our county,” said Maggie Mesinger, a Highlands resident involved in the community response to the Gibraltar fiasco. “Kira Alejandro is exactly the kind of voice we need. She’s not afraid to ask hard questions, she believes in community engagement, and she works hard to protect the quality-of-life issues that strengthen and unite communities.”
About Kira Alejandro
Alejandro was born and raised in the 3rd Council District. She grew up on Brackenville Road in Hockessin and now lives with her husband near the former NVF factory in Yorklyn. Alejandro has a background as a musician and works as a barista. She attended Cab Calloway before transferring to Interlochen Arts Academy, a world-renowned music and art school in Michigan. Later, she attended UD for three years before pursuing music professionally.
For the past decade, Alejandro has worked in the specialized coffee industry, primarily at Philter Coffee in Kennett Square. Her experience as a working-class woman anchors her commitment to policies that will help middle-class and working-class families. If elected, she plans to use her role on County Council to fight for lower utility costs and lower housing costs.
About County Council District 3
District 3 stretches along the DE-PA border from Yorklyn to UD. It includes State House District 22 (Smith-R), and parts of State House Districts 12 (Griffith-D), 21 (Burns-D), and 23 (Gorman-D).
The district features key corridors that face heavy commercial and commuter traffic, including Routes 7, 41, and 48. Areas in Pike Creek, Hockessin, and Yorklyn are also experiencing new development pressure, with roads and infrastructure struggling to keep up. Recent development proposals threaten to bring further congestion and encroach on open space and natural resources in a district that is home to two state parks (White Clay and Auburn Valley) and natural gems like Mt. Cuba Center, Ashland Nature Center, and Middle Run Valley Natural Area.
District 3 has been represented by Janet Kilpatrick since 2010 and by Republicans for as long as New Castle County Council has existed. Kilpatrick has faced Republican primary challengers in the past but no Democrats since 2010. Kilpatrick has been rumored to retire for many years but is now mired in Delaware’s data center controversy. Kilpatrick recently moved to weaken a proposed ordinance that would regulate data center expansion. In contrast, Alejandro has called for common-sense data center regulations to protect Delawareans from skyrocketing utility costs and environmental harms.
For more information, visit kiraforcouncil.com, Yes, you can donate to her campaign right there!
3. Another D Files In County Council District 3. One Kyle Grantham. A photographer and, to my eyes, a real good one. He’s the Deputy Director For Strategic Communications For New Castle County. He manages ‘digital communications and multimedia production’ for the county in that role. Also very involved with the Newark Country Club. He has filed his committee, I’ll link when he posts a campaign page.
4. We Have A D Primary in RD 23. Wouldn’t be shocked if it was more than a two-way before the filing deadline. LuAnn D’Agostino had previously filed. This week she was joined by one Dan Seador. At first glance (meaning, if I have the right Dan Seador), he is the President of the Aetna Hose, Hook & Ladder Fire Company. He also was a long-serving EMT with the NCC Emergency Services Division. Based on this article, I doubt that he’ll be a rubber-stamp for the University Of Delaware. I consider that, at least, to be a plus. RD 23 is currently represented by first-termer Rep. Mara Gorman, who will be seeking the Senate seat currently held by Dave Sokola, who has announced his retirement at the end of his term.
5. Incumbent Filings: Rep. Melanie Ross Levin (D-RD 10); NCC Sheriff Scott Phillips (D).
Now, that’s more like it! Here’s hoping for a few more weeks like this one.
That’s all I’ve got. What’d I miss, and whaddayathink?