Delaware Political (More Or Less) Weekly: From Whenever I Posted The Last One Thru Feb. 13
1. Meet The WFP/Leftward Delaware Stalwarts. If you care about supporting progressive candidates and you haven’t already RSVP’d to this event, I suggest you do so ASAP. I’m especially excited to meet Marie Pinkney and Debbie Harrington as I’ve never previously had the pleasure. Not to mention, I always like to talk to Larry Lambert, who has a legit chance to win the D primary in RD 7, my home district. I’m psyched for this!
2. Sarah McBride Gets An Opponent Of Sorts. Former IPOD member Steve Washington has migrated to the Republican Party and will face the Juggernaut That Is Sarah McBride. His reasons for running as an R are, well, you decide for yourself:
“From speaking to a couple of Democrats, I was hearing that I’m being taken as a joke,” he said.
Ho-kay. Can’t imagine why that’s the case. BTW, he garnered 7% of the vote when he ran as an independent against Mayor Mike before he was Mayor Mike. He ‘is the executive secretary of the Wilmington Housing Authority Board of Commissioners and sits on the state Board of Parole. He teaches special education full time at Talley Middle School in the Brandywine School District and is a deacon at Mount Zion Greater Harvest Ministries in Wilmington.’ In other words, his background doesn’t suck. It’s just that he has yet to articulate anything approaching a rationale for his candidacy. He talks vaguely about ‘the family’ and that’s it.
3. Mea Culpa-I’ve Understated Spiros Mantzavinos’ Chances In SD 7. Word from D’s who I respect is that he is running on true Democratic principles including a strong minimum wage increase. He also has no reason to to support the current leadership–especially Nicole Poore. Word on the street is that she is trying to sabotage the candidacy of anyone who would run against Delcollo. Explain to me again why she’s in leadership? Wouldn’t hurt for Spiros to upload a website sooner rather than later though…we’ll link to it.
4. Mike Smith: Curb Your Rethug Trolls. Even the supposedly most ‘reasonable’ of Rethugs resorts to innuendo to smear their opponents. Take Mike Smith. Please. Allow me to replay the following exchange from the annals of DL:
Faithful Skeptic: Where’s the take-down of D’Agostino for the fact that she went to Eastern University, hasn’t posted a portrait on her website, doesn’t tell her age, shows no visible means of support, and . . . whatever? I mean, she may actually belong to a Christian congregation. Gives certain contributors here the willies.
Luann D’Agostino: Good morning Faithful. Sorry to hear about your willies. Regardless of your intentions, everyone should have a voice and I am happy to address your concerns. You viewed my website while it was still under construction – pictures were added within a few days and additional pictures and content are coming soon – https://www.electluann.com. I am 53 years old, a fact which could have been easily ascertained with basic math from the facts and dates on my website. I have no need to hide my age and believe I am the stronger candidate because of my life experience. After receiving my Associates Degree and while working full-time at HP, I chose to attend Eastern University because at the time they were the only college in the area offering an accelerated BA program for working adults. Online courses were not an option in 1990. Always willing to answer questions at luann@electluann.com.
So, what Smith’s troll did was to try to plant the seeds of doubt with Democratic voters about D’Agostino’s candidacy. They did just enough oppo research to raise questions in a portentous manner, only to have them blown to smithereens by, um, facts. Has Monsignor Lavelle-stink all over it. Me? I was doubtful of her candidacy at first. I’m all in now.
5. Eric Levin Files For SD 5 Primary. I like Eric. I especially appreciated that he took one for the team when he ran against Greg Lavelle back when the Monsignor was still a State Rep. He faces a daunting task in that Kyle Evans Gay has raised so much money. We will see, however, whether that money translates into connecting with the voters. Arden Town Assembly chair Jeff Politis has also said he is running, but that’s pretty much been the extent of his campaign so far. I for one, think this primary may be good for the winner of it. There are close to 5000 more registered D’s than R’s in the district now, and direct appeals to those D’s is the key to beating Cathy Cloutier, who can’t win without extraordinary support from D’s.
6. Filings. Here are all the filings since Jan. 23, the date of my last ‘weekly’ feature: Rep. Jeffrey Spiegelman (R-11th District); Rep. Larry Mitchell (D-13th RD); Rep. Michael Ramone (R-21st RD); Craig Pugh (R-28th RD, he will attempt to give the 28th District a ‘Lumpectomy’); Cheryl Precourt (R-32nd RD, the same religious anti-abortion fanatic who ran against Andria Bennett last time); Rep. Charles Postles (R-33rd RD); NCC Councilman John Cartier (D-8th CD); Wilmington Council President Hanifa Shabazz (D); Bregatta Fields, (Candidate-Wilmington Council District 5, I could find out nothing about this candidate, do you have anything to share?); Ian Smith, (Candidate-Wilmington District Council 6). Gotta say, while I know little about Ian Smith, I’m pretty damned impressed with his background. Worth checking out his website. He could be a keeper.
That’s all I’ve got. What’d I miss, and whaddayathink?
Spiros was at my RD committee meeting Monday and I asked him about supporting a 15 dollar minimum wage and legalization of marijuana. On the wage he gave a non answer of watching what our GA and other states are doing before having an opinion. On legalization he said he supports medical, then backtracked to say he hasn’t researched the issue and would get back to me. Ffs there’s been a bill in our GA on this topic for two years and he hasn’t researched it. You gotta be kidding me. At least delcollo supports legalization.
Just for the record, I’ve known Spiros for nearly 20years. I’m a D and if Spiros is the only D candidate, I will be donating and volunteering for Delcollo. I don’t agree with Delcollo on everything, but Delaware D’s like Spiros are more conservative and a greater threat.
Thank you, Bane.
This is my point about Delaware Democrats: A conservative (“moderate”) Democrat will be in the majority, and therefore will do more damage than a conservative Republican, who would be in the minority and therefore cannot do as much damage.
The bulk of the Delaware Democratic Party is no more interested in progressivism than the GOP. They’re just better at pretending to be.
The Levin-Gay race will be interesting with edge to Kyle. However I wouldn’t put as much weigh into the money aspect. These local races are about the field game. Lots of Money in local races only gets you what? More mail? As long as Eric has enough to be competitive I don’t think the money game is that important in these local races.
Right now, he doesn’t have enough money to be competitive. But I agree, will Kyle successfully build a grassroots framework for her campaign? And will the volunteers come? I THINK she will, and I THINK they will, but I have some lingering concerns. Including a relative lack of presence in our area of the district.
Why cant we get a primary for Poore??????
Word has it she is blocking all the gun bills because of her Husband and his love of guns.
Now shes being an obstructionist for opponents against DelCollo????
Great question. But if you get rid of McBride, you likely get rid of Poore, at least in leadership. The difference between the two is that McBride has largely been an absentee senator the last few years and he’s old. For better or worse, Poore is more or less inescapable in her district.
Speaking of the Monsignor, CRI is pumping out interviews with him every couple of weeks. I wonder if he’s plotting a comeback.