Spiros Mantzavinos To Challenge Anthony Delcollo
You will note the lack of an exclamation point at the end of the hed. That is on purpose. At the risk of seeming hypocritical (I’ve been screaming for someone to challenge Delcollo), this smells fishy to me. Real fishy.
I personally like Spiros. With that out of the way, he had been a corporate lobbyist for quite some time before he became part of Kathy McGuiness’ ‘Greek Squad’ in the Auditor’s Office, where he is listed as Chief Of Staff. Among other things, he handled PR for that Delaware City Refinery, you know the one:
Previously, he served as External Affairs Manager for Motiva Enterprises’ (a joint venture between Shell Oil Products US and Saudi Aramco) Delaware City Refinery. There, Spiros managed the plant’s comprehensive public affairs program during a three-year period of intense public, media and regulatory scrutiny. Spiros played a vital role in formulating government relations and communications strategies to manage multiple and evolving issues, maintaining the facility’s license to operate.
Before he became a corporate lobbyist, he spent a few years as Dave McBride’s top assistant in the Senate. Dave even once bought Spiros a set of golf clubs as a gift. Or maybe it was just a bag, but it was clear he wanted to play golf with him.
At first glance, this looks like (a) a convenient candidacy designed to ensure that McBride stays in charge, whether Spiros wins or not; (b) an attempt to cement McGuiness as a political powerbroker; and (c) an attempt to discourage a more progressive challenger (and a real strong potential candidate has been considering the race) from entering the race and facing a divisive primary before the general.
I’ll have lots more to talk about in Friday’s Political Weekly piece, but this my first impression. In fact, the stench has only increased during my writing of the piece.
I have been told that Spiros left the Auditor’s office in mid-December. Someone, uh, might want to change the roster at the auditor’s office.
“an attempt to discourage a more progressive challenger (and a real strong potential candidate has been considering the race) from entering the race and facing a divisive primary before the general.”
I have to discount this concern. If a better candidate was dithering, that’s on them.
On the bright side, this person seems to know how to win elections and we are in an all hands on deck election.
More and better Democrats. Sometime more, and sometimes better.
I’d rather have a Republican, who’d be in the minority where he can’t do any damage, than a corporate Democrat who’d be in the majority caucus where he could do tremendous damage.
YMMV.
Got that right.
You don’t need a nose to smell a rat.
I get that, I do.
But view every “R” v “D” matchup this year as a vote for/against Trump.
If every R loses everywhere it will be a loud condemnation of Trump and the Trumpublican Party.
I view every State Senate election as a vote for or against the leadership team of Dave McBride/Nicole Poore.
While I don’t blame the Party for trying, trying very hard, but failing, to find a more progressive candidate, I’m not gonna waste any time on this race if it comes down to Delcollo or Mantzavinos.
Too bad there isn’t a primary. A primary in that RD could only help Jess Scarene.
There could still be one. And he’d be a much better choice than Spiros. However, in fairness to the Party, he has not made himself known and, of course, he might not do it. I wish I could say more to anybody about this, but I can’t.
BTW, you are so right about primaries, especially in the City. We now have one for a City Council District, District 2, Trippi Congo’s seat. Shane (accent et gu?) Darby, who is being trained by Drew and Network Delaware, and one Billy Lane, Jr., who appears to be a lay preacher of some sort. There will be more. Rysheema Dixon, who is bleeping amazing, is apparently planning a run for City Council President, presumably against the casually-corrupt incumbent, Hanifa Shabazz.
Very interested to see how this race turns out. I am in this Senate District and I am not a fan of Spiros’s affiliation with McGuinness.
Delcollo has been the most responsive elected official I’ve ever encountered in my nearly 20 active years in politics — probably because he knows I’m a loud-mouth who would light him up if he didn’t respond.
That being said, this is a blue district. I’d love a good Democrat to win this seat. I’m just not sold on Spiros.
DelCollo is a good Senator. Fight me
Why is he supporting Trump?
https://mobile.twitter.com/cursetn/status/1214291108454383618
Spiros posted message on LinkedIn in late Dec. that he has left auditor’s office and is relaunching his PR business.
Someone find out whether he supports a minimum wage increase. If he does, good enough in my book. I don’t wanna see people starving because a bunch of people who claim to care about income inequality sat on their hands.