Nicole Poore. Val Longhurst. Krista Griffith?
Sure looks that way. We know how both Nicole ‘No Longer’ Poore and Our PAL Val parlayed elective office into jobs for which they were singularly unqualified, and how they made sure that their new employers were generously funded out of the bowels of Leg Hall.
Without passing judgment on her qualifications, it sure looks like Krista Griffith got a job for the specific purpose of ensuring a windfall both for herself and her employer.
Not coincidentally, she took the job as Executive Director of the Children’s Advocacy Center in 2022. The Children’s Advocacy Center is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit. She got the job after the end of the legislative session that year. Since the Fiscal Year for 2023 runs until June of 2023, she did not receive full annual compensation, earning around $54, 000. The key year is FY 2024. She received annual compensation for that year of $121,641. Here’s what’s important, though. During the legislative year, which runs until June 30, 2024, the Joint Finance Committee worked on the FY ’25 proposed budget and grants-in-aid. A separate Bond Bill Committee, comprised of different legislators, considered the capital budget. While I don’t know if the Children’s Advocacy Center had previously requested funding from the Grants-In-Aid process, it is a fact that, for the FY 2025 grants-in-aid process, the Children’s Advocacy Project received Grants-In-Aid funding for the very first time.
Oh, did I mention that Rep. Griffith was on the JFC Committee that crafted both the Budget Bill and the Grants-In-Aid bill? I have now. Here is the Grants-In-Aid Bill for FY 2025. Please go to page 7 of 31. There it is: Children’s Advocacy Center Of Delaware: $1,136,000. You will note that the organization’s name is underlined. That means it was a first-time grant recipient. So, a not-for profit dating back to May of 1996 receives state grant funding in the very first year that a state legislator becomes its Executive Director. Not just a one-time grant either. Here is the FY 2026 Grants-In-Aid bill. Please go to page 6 of 29. Another $1,136,000 to the Children’s Advocacy Center. Please note that, once again, Rep. Griffith is on the bill as a sponsor.
To respond to the rope-a-dope that Sen. Trey Paradee uttered in the Cris Barrish piece this morning, you know about ‘never being pressured’ by the unethical legislator–kids come right up to your screen–come on, closer, YOU DON’T HAVE TO APPLY PRESSURE BECAUSE THIS IS THE DELAWARE WAY IN ITS CASUALLY CORRUPT MANNER. You think Trey Paradee had to exert pressure to get funding for his bro’s (not yet proven to be) cancer-riddled soccer fields? This is the way it’s always been done and will continue to be done until we vote in more ethical legislators.
Oh, and before Krista ‘Zuckerberg’ Griffith cries crocodile tears about what a wonderful agency this is, THAT’S NOT THE POINT. The point is that she got the job because she could deliver the $$’s. Full stop.
I hear that she’s now left the position b/c she’s running against someone who doesn’t intend to kowtow to the Musks, Zuckerbergs, and the other corporate giants who befoul our laws by throwing money and their weight around. She knows she has a fight on her hands. I hope she loses it. You can help rid the General Assembly of this Corporate Rubber Stamp.. You can start by clicking right here.
I tossed the mailer she sent out last week but couldn’t find any mention in it of her support for our nation’s mega millionaires. Maybe she’s not proud of her vote. More likely, she is proud of it but doesn’t want any normal folks to know.
Betcha she didn’t mention all the attorneys from Richards, Layton & Finger who filled up her campaign coffers after she ran interference for Musk and Zuckerberg either.
RL & F was the local law firm doing the billionaires’ bidding.
“So, a not-for profit dating back to May of 1996 receives state grant funding in the very first year that a state legislator becomes its Executive Director.”
That says it all. Very glad she’s being primaried and I hope that district votes her out.
Such a coincidence that most of these people endorsed Bethany hall long. It’s almost as if they were worried they were going to get found out. Or maybe they were covering for each other. So many coincidences. Hmmmm.
I just saw BHL as the standard-bearer for the casual corruption of the Delaware Way.
The Vals and Nicoles of this world knew that BHL represented business-as-usual for their ongoing scams.
Hey, perhaps they were anticipating some of those opioid funds had Bethany got elected. I could see both of them making the case…
Which reminds me, how about a follow-up story on BHL’s campaign finance reports. That’s a story that shouldn’t be dropped.
Might also want to check out when her husband landed on the state payroll.
Good point. Ted Griffith, husband of Rep. K. Griffith, works for the State Treasurer. So much nice work for legislators and their spouses paid for by tax payers!!
In fairness, I looked up his profile.
Regardless of how he got the job, he certainly appears qualified for the job:
“Ted brings to the role of Delaware EARNS program director extensive experience in financial planning as well as marketing and communications. A Certified Financial Planner (TM) professional, Ted worked for 16 years at the global investment company Vanguard. Most recently, he was a high net worth financial advisor and helped to oversee $100 million in client assets. He was also a marketing and communications manager with responsibility for fund reports and other content distributed to millions of investors. Before his career in financial services, Ted was an award-winning journalist for a variety of outlets, including CBS MarketWatch and The News Journal. He is an active volunteer in his community and currently serves as the treasurer for a statewide non-profit, the Down Syndrome Association of Delaware.”
Qualified but it appears the gig is below his skill set. So why is he there?
So, about that FY 25 Grant-in-Aid bill. Those funds for Children’s Advocacy Center are new to GIA, but it’s not new funding. It’s pass-through funds that previously were in the operating budget. The Senate Dems wrote about it in this 2024 press release (https://senatedems.delaware.gov/2024/06/30/delaware-senate-passes-98m-grants-in-aid-legislation/):
“This year’s bill also, for the first time, includes the allocation of federal pass-through funding to 16 nonprofits that were previously included in the operating budget. The state pass-through funding to those organizations was moved to SB 327 to ensure better consistency and transparency through the annual application and funding review requirements of the Grants-In-Aid bill, which requires a 3/4 supermajority vote in both chambers.”
Regardless of any feelings you have about Krista, the argument that she directed GIA money to Children’s Advocacy Center isn’t true. It was part of a bigger move by the General Assembly to move existing pass-through funding to GIA. That’s it.
You may or may not recall that there was considerable criticism of the Budget Committee for transferring that funding to Grants-In-Aid.
I’m sure you KNOW that the same people on JFC were also on the Grants-In-Aid panel.
It was precisely the kind of insiderism that has been all too prevalent in Dover.
It’s also one of the reasons why there’s been a push to have a Grants-In-Aid Committee with different membership than JFC.
Fully support! It’s not a one person decision.