Delaware Political Weekly: June 2-8, 2012

1. Rep. Terry Schooley Retires. 23rd District in Play.

Dem. Rep. Terry Schooley announced yesterday that she would not seek reelection to her Newark-area house seat that she has represented since 2004. While the District has a pretty strong Democratic plurality at 5448 D, 3788 R, and 3518 I, this is far from a guaranteed safe district. In fact, immediately prior to Schooley’s win in 2004, the district was represented by R Tim Boulden. With a strong University of Delaware influence, the district would be hospitable to an R in the Steve Amick mold, if indeed such a pachyderm exists inside the shrinking Rethuglican tent.  Bottom line for the D’s: Yesterday, this was a safe district, now it’s one they’ll have to defend. In addition to Schooley, perhaps the best-known legislator to hold this seat was Rep. Ada Leigh Soles. Soles and Schooley are examples of the kind of legislators this district prefers. Lotsa great names have already been mentioned in what is one of the most progressive districts in the State. Check out the thread here for some of them. I mean, Jerry Grant, Paul Baumbach, Ezra Temko, Lisa Diller, can’t go wrong with any of them.

2. Rep. Brad Bennett Retires.

In this case, Bennett’s retirement following his latest DUI incident likely helps D chances to retain the 32nd District seat, although this is no sure thing either. Long-time Kent County magistrate Ellis Parrott is running on the Republican line. While Will McVay has also filed, his public statements that he is not a Republican will make him no more than an afterthought, albeit a noisy one, should he follow through on his primary challenge. The numbers in the 32nd are favorable to the D’s, 5596 D, 3109 R, and 3030 I. A strong plurality, almost, but not quite, a majority. A tainted or uninspiring D could well lose here, but a credible candidate would be favored to hold the seat. Nevertheless, not a great week for the House D’s in that they now face potentially-competitive races where they previously had incumbents.

3. Carney Files.

Right now, Rose Izzo is his only filed opponent. Who knows, maybe Kovach does a 180 and runs for County Executive instead of challenging Carney? I find Carney so frustrating, and one reason why is, for a graduate of Dartmouth, Carney is just so damned intellectually incurious. John, there’s a whole world of ideas out there beyond Tom Carper and Ed Freel. An Ivy League mind is a terrible thing to waste.

4. Beatty’s 15 Minutes Are Up.

From primarying Jack Markell to filing as an Independent in the 34th RD (incumbent is R Don Blakey), jerk/bully Doug Beatty has almost completed his, to quote Mike Tyson, ‘fade into bolivian’. He will be a non-factor, and he’ll make enemies, and that’ll be that. Buh-bye.

5. Longhurst Has Primary Opponent.

She richly deserves one. She is the primary sponsor of the Delmarva Power special interest legislation that would literally make the powerless powerless. Whether James D. Burton of Caravel Hunt is a legit challenger is open to question.  Couldn’t turn up anything on the Google, so, spies, I turn to you. Anyone know anything about this guy? Anyway, both Longhurst and Burton filed since our last report, and will face off in the D primary in September.

6. Yet More Christopher Wackiness.

Looks like Sussex County will have a series of R primaries based on one question: Who loves Sheriff of Nuttingham Jeff Christopher the most? John Christensen and Sam Wilson will seek to answer that question in a primary for the County Council 2nd District seat. Might I suggest that, in lieu of a debate, a dating game format, with Christopher there in full sheriff’s regalia? Sample Question: “Candidate Number One: Once you have me handcuffed, what would you like to do to me?”

7. Who Replaces Martelli?

It could (and, I think, should) be two different people. One to serve out his term, and the winner of the primary and/or election this fall. According to the News-Journal:

While the council must name an interim replacement, that person would serve only until Nov. 6, the date of the general election.The winning candidate would take office the first Tuesday after the election as opposed to January, when the rest of the council would be seated.

Councilman Stephen Martelli resigned from Wilmington City Council late last month to accept a job with the U. S.  State Department. I respectfully suggest that Council appoint someone who will promise only to serve out the remainder of Martelli’s term. That way, Council would not be seen as conferring an unfair political advantage onto someone who has not been duly elected.

8. Jacobs and Spencer Primary Robinson in Wilmington.

U’Gundi Jacobs, who serves on the Board of Habitat for Humanity of New Castle County (Trivia time: Who is the president of the board? No cheating, please), and who appears to promote comedy cabarets, will primary incumbent Eric Robinson in the Democratic primary for the 3rd Councilmanic District. So will Wilbert Spencer, Jr. Uh, you have to wonder about someone’s qualifications when the only references you can find are court cases involving the would-be candidate as  either defendant or unsuccessful litigant. But, hey, maybe someone can give me, or, more importantly, his constituents, a reason to take him seriously.

9. Filings, We Have Filings!

Jon Husband, NCC Executive;  Democratic Rep. Pete Schwartzkopf(14th RD);  R Brooks Witzke, Sussex County Clerk of the Peace. Witzke is the son of Scott Witzke, who is running for the 1st Susssex Councilmanic District b/c he just loves him some Jeff Christopher:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=85t-xAv9xn0[/youtube]

That’s it for this week.  What’d I miss, and whaddayathink?