There are three Democratic primaries:
District 3–where the Developers’ Best Friend Janet Kilpatrick is retiring. It’s a Hockessin/Newark area district.
District 4–where longtime Councilman Penrose Hollins is retiring. A Wilmington-area district.
District 5–where Valerie George immediately allied herself with developer interests. That district runs along the state’s western border from Newark down to below the Canal.
The issues in all three districts are similar. You have three pro-unfettered-development candidates running against those who (a) have promised to not be rubber-stamps for the developers, and (b) who oppose data centers.
Quite a lot is at stake here. If progressive candidates Kira Alejandro, Jason Hoover, and Syam Kosigi win, and they all have legitimate chances, you could see an end to the Shawn Tuckers of this world running roughshod over Council, you could see an end to the bundling parties at the Tarabicos Law Firm, and you could see real regulation over unfettered development.
Council District 3: Community activist Kira Alejandro is facing former County employee Kyle Grantham. Grantham was just endorsed by Janet Kilpatrick, which says a lot about both Grantham’s priorities and his political acumen. Alejandro has led the fight against what was clearly a corrupt backrooom deal engineered by former State Rep. Deborah Hudson. She has taken the lead on preserving land that was rubber-stamped for development. She does her homework. Not only do I think that Kira will be a great member of Council, but I see her as having potential to run successfully for higher offices down the line. Plus, her home page, which I’ve linked, spells out quite clearly where she stands on the issues. One of my favorite new candidates of the cycle.
Council District 4: Regular readers of DL recall that I criticized Jason Hoover for his inability/unwillingness to raise money in his run for Council President two years ago. Plus, I much preferred Val Gould, who likely would have won the race had Hoover not split the progressive vote with them. However, Hoover has raised enough money to be competitive this time around. His principal opponent appears to be Curtis Linton, who is the anointed candidate of the Construction & Building Trades. I admit that I’ve heard good things about Linton, but his stated unwillingness to oppose data centers makes this an easy call for me.
Council District 5: As soon as Valerie George had been elected, the Tarabicos Law firm held a bundling party for her. She immediately became a rubber-stamp for developer interests on Council–and nothing else. They own her. They tell her how to vote. Her opponent, Syam Kosigi, has a different vision:
For too long, residents of District 5 have watched important community decisions be made without their meaningful input. Important issues — from unchecked data center development to rising property taxes — have been handled without transparency, accountability, or a long-term plan. Syam Kosigi is running to change that, bringing four core priorities to the County Council.
You can click the above link to read about his four core priorities.
Now, imagine a Council with these three progressive challengers, along with Dee Durham, Dave Carter, John Cartier, and Kevin Caneco.
If these three stellar candidates are elected, we can truly end Business As Usual on County Council.
Imagine that.
Then vote.
As a longtime county govt lurker this is truly an amazing opportunity to change the entire council. The additions of Carter and Durham started the change, recruiting Caneco to get on was another step. As the OP said Cartier is in the right camp. Adding these 3 would be huge, Linton is nothing but a union shil, Valerie George stands for nothing and seems miserable doing it, and Janet leaving is HUGE for progress. Not sure about either Kyle or Kira but Kyle touting Janets endorsement was gross. Hoping for the best, but expecting the worst as any longtime Delawarean knows.