Just when I think that we’re pretty much done with intriguing new developments, I’m proven wrong.
At least wrong enough so that I’ve got items for yet another political weekly.
1. Sen. Mantzavinos Gets A Primary Challenger. Well, I didn’t hear about this until this morning, but he filed yesterday. So…I’m counting it. One Jose Lopez has filed as a D in SD 7, a Prices Corner/Faulkland Heights-area district. If he’s the same Jose Lopez, he is the founder of La Tolteca, has served as the chair of the Latin-American Community Center, and has served on the board of the Delaware Restaurant Association. It’s a late entry, and I don’t think he is backed by the likes of WFP. Nevertheless, an interesting candidate. To me, Spiros has outperformed my expectations, especially when it comes to protecting nursing home residents, so we’ll see how this goes.
2. A Rumor I AM Aware Of. Looks like one of NCC Council’s rubber-stamps for developers and data centers might have a progressive challenger by the end of the weekend. That’s it. For now.
3. What’s The Story Behind The Candidacy Of Ayanna Khan-Flowers In RD 9? I ask because (a) she’s certainly as qualified as anybody for this position, however; (b) she’s entering really late into a primary with two equally-qualified candidates. This is the seat being vacated by Kevin Hensley. I feel there has to more to this story. Otherwise, she would presumably have entered earlier. So–is one of the other candidates dropping out? Is this an attempt to split the vote somehow? Does anybody know anything, as I clearly do not?
4. Rep. Bryan Shupe Files For Election. Noteworthy because the Milford area Republican barely, and I mean barely (12 vote margin) edged out Patrick Smith in the 2024 primary. Meaning, this rematch will be competitive.
5. Republican Files In RD 12. Steve Pickering. Got 38.7% running as an R against Krista Griffith in 2024. 38.7% is about what an R can reasonably expect to get in that district.
6. Filings: Rep. ‘Rae’ Moore (D-RD 8); Rep. Cyndie Romer (D-RD 25); Rep. Eric Morrison (D-RD 27).
That’s all I’ve got this week. What’d I miss, and whaddayathink?
This would explain why Spiros looked so shook up at the Greek festival last night. Agreed he has made some headway on nursing homes, but he does not make my shortlist of progressive champions. I’ll listen to what Lopez has to say, but his tie to the restaurant association and their general politcal bent makes me uneasy
I saw Spiros at the Greek Fest yesterday. Didn’t seem so shook up to me. We traded Greek restaurant tips.
I called out to him to say hello and got the cold shoulder. Maybe he felt more comfortable around an ally.
I’ve been critical of Spiros on lots of things.
But the nursing home reform efforts were close to my heart as it was an issue I worked on a lot with Sen. Marshall when I worked for the Senate.
Where’s the Republican candidate in RD20?
The Rethugs are 0 for 2 so far.
Both Nikki Miller and Dan Poliseno had filed at different times, and both withdrew.
Perhaps it’s coincidence, perhaps not, but I think Alonna Berry has done a superb job. Really impressed with the legislation she’s brought forward.
I am liking Ruby Schaefer as an alternate to Berry. Don’t see much of Berry in the District. Plus charter school mess was quite a hit to her reputation.
Right. Who better than the wife of a Rethug who was run out of Smyrna and then became a tool of developers on the Suxco Council to win a Democratic primary?
The Schaefers are some of the worst people in Delaware, which is saying something.
The Schaefers define toxicity in Delaware politics. Untrustworthy, vile, and two-faced.
Ruby switched parties fairly recently because they finally realized that a MAGA-loving Republican (they flew a Trump flag at their home for a good while) wasn’t cutting it. Mark was already an elected Republican, so that wouldn’t fly, so she’s giving it a go.
Don’t be fooled: She’s really good at laying it on thick and seeming like a caring human. It’s a ruse.
Jamar Money Republican filed for 9 th seat as well. Not sure if he is part of the Money family farms in Middletown
OK, I asked about the candidacy of Ayanna Khan-Flowers. Turns out there could be a tie-in with both her candidacy and that of Jose Gomez, with opposition to SB 272 being the common denominator:
https://legis.delaware.gov/BillDetail?LegislationId=143024
In other words, could be stealth candidates for Associated Builders and Contractors–the anti-union shops.
When I get two of my fave spies suggesting this even though they haven’t talked to each other, I see a pattern.
Scuttlebutt says when the data showing the astronomical projected costs of this bill to the school districts was presented to an RD recently, Nicole Poore flipped out. This is not a good bill for the general public. The costs to the state are tremendous. Is there a fiscal note since the state ponies up what, 80% of the money?
Of course it’s not a good bill for the general public. Laws that favor unions never are.
Unions are not our friends. Useful allies at times, yes, but they are out for themselves, not the general public.
Nicole Poore claimed she could never go against the Unions and had to vote for it.
Rest assured, she knew exactly what she was voting for (higher school costs) but her husband is part of Marvalias’ organization so what does she care? Her narrow parochial interests won out.
Seems there is more opposition in the House.