Tag: Sean Barney

Delaware Political Weekly: July 12-18, 2014

Filed in Delaware by on July 18, 2014 66 Comments
Delaware Political Weekly: July 12-18, 2014

The Democratic Party endorses neither candidate for the State Treasurer primary. Kremlinologists no doubt will enjoy parsing the following sentence:

Given the Committee’s perception of quality both Democratic Treasurer candidates possess, the committee failed to reach consensus on the endorsement of either candidate.

Might I suggest that this is one endorsement that neither candidate really wanted? How could Chip run as the anti-establishment candidate if the establishment endorsed him, and how could Barney run as someone not beholden to the Carpers and Carneys of this world if he got the endorsement? My vote will ultimately come down to this: What can we least afford? A self-delusional narcissist who has had his hands effectively tied, or the next Carper or Carney?

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Delaware Political Weekly: July 5-11, 2014

Filed in Delaware by on July 11, 2014 3 Comments

There’s no sense recapping what we’ve already recapped, so I won’t. However, there is at least a possibility that Rebecca Walker will not be the only person to withdraw from the ballot. 1. Today marks another election deadline: July 11, 2014 at 4:30 p.m. DEADLINE for filed candidates to withdraw or file for a different […]

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Delaware Political Weekly: June 14-20, 2014

Filed in Delaware by on June 20, 2014 20 Comments
Delaware Political Weekly: June 14-20, 2014

Ted Kittila, a Seaford native and a Wilmington corporate attorney, announced that he would run as an R for Attorney General. He has not yet filed. Here is a background piece on Kittila from the News Journal.  It also looks like Kittila will need to bring something a little stronger than his trying to contrast himself with Denn by essentially claiming that he is a lawyer while Denn is a politician. Denn’s response:

“I have practiced law in every court in the State of Delaware, representing both businesses and people with few resources or who couldn’t afford an attorney,” Denn said. “I have worked to improve the public safety system as chair of the Criminal Justice Council. I have experience protecting consumers as Insurance Commissioner, protecting children as Chair of the Child Protection Accountability Commission and getting laws passed as Insurance Commissioner and Lieutenant Governor to help families, businesses, schools and kids. I look forward to talking about my experience and ideas.”

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Delaware Political Weekly: June 7-13, 2014

Filed in Delaware by on June 13, 2014 36 Comments
Delaware Political Weekly: June 7-13, 2014

2. Chip Flowers Creates Yet Another Issue For Himself

So, let’s see if I’ve got this straight. In order to ‘save the state money’, Delaware’s Most Ethical State Employee has cut deals with seven banks, all of whom manage state $$’s, to pay for his travel expenses and those of his staff. $5K per bank, times 7. $35,000 in travel expenses. Which is a lot of travel expenses. I would call this extortion were Flowers not so ethical. He, of course, is once again changing the subject. This issue isn’t/wasn’t that he traveled, it is/was that he was unable to account for how much he spent and who paid for it. If a treasurer can’t account for his own expenses, how can he account for the state’s finances?

3. I’m Not Loving Sean Barney’s Campaign

I got an e-blast from him yesterday. He’s been endorsed by a buncha lawyers. I like some of those lawyers. I don’t give two bleeps that they’ve endorsed him. He used some of the same boilerplate that I can’t stand when it comes to our Corporate Bar:

Our legal community in Delaware inspires trust and confidence the world over because of its reputation for upholding the highest standards of professional responsibility. Moreover, Delaware’s bar is exceptional in the manner in which it pairs the highest expectations of competence with the highest expectations of collegiality.

Computer-generated boilerplate.

I have people telling me on the QT that Sean Barney is really one of us. As in progressive. But he is running a risk-averse campaign where all we learn about him is about his military service, his high school schools initiative, and the fact that he’s been endorsed by a lot of the usual suspects. Haven’t even heard a dog-whistle from him to create any enthusiasm.

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Memorial Day: Sean Barney Talks About His Iraq Experience

Filed in Delaware by on May 26, 2014 5 Comments
Memorial Day:  Sean Barney Talks About His Iraq Experience

We all know that Sean Barney is challenging Chip Flowers for the office of State Treasurer. Sean is a veteran of the Iraq war — one who signed up to serve after 9/11. I’m a big fan of Sean and his leadership — this video is his interview yesterday with Patrick Murphy on the MSNBC show Taking the Hill:

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Delaware Political Weekly: Feb. 22-28, 2014

Filed in National by on February 28, 2014 49 Comments
Delaware Political Weekly: Feb. 22-28, 2014

Jonathan Gallo has filed to face Bobby Outten in the 30th RD. Gallo changed his registration from R to D to run and, if you check out his site  right now, you will not find the word Democrat, or the donkey, anywhere on the site. I mean, anywhere. He’s got the classic bio, and he’s a “man of dedication, integrity, and commitment, who early in his life felt a call to serve his community.” Which means, he’s a ‘man of dedication, integrity, and commitment’ who is hiding his party affiliation. He also rides a tractor standing up (picture).

J. Kevin Robbins of Harrington, is challenging Harold Peterman in the conservative 33rd RD. Robbins is a long-time farmer and has the type of profile that could give him a shot in this district.  Here is his site.   Not only does he have the donkey there, he actually calls the Party the Democratic Party.

Guess which one I prefer.

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