Election Filing Deadline Preview & Open Thread

Election Filing Deadline Preview & Open Thread

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The deadline for candidates to file is 12 noon Tuesday. Parties can fill slots on the ballot moving forward, and candidates can withdraw, but anyone who does not file by the deadline cannot get on the ballot w/o party support. Questions answered: 1. Yes, the fearsome duo of Carl Smink and Rose Izzo will lead the mighty Republican ticket into battle this fall. Izzo filed on Thursday, July 3. 2. Speaker Pete Schwartzkopf will run for reelection. Not that it was ever in doubt, but he has now filed. Unanswered Questions: 1. Will State Auditor Tom Wagner file for reelection?
How The GA Passed Energy Efficiency w/o Passing HB 179

How The GA Passed Energy Efficiency w/o Passing HB 179

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This is awesome, just the kind of stuff I love. You will no doubt recall, through the writings of Cassandra and others, that Delaware utilities currently cannot offer their customers consumer conservation programs that would save the consumer money and reduce energy usage. You also know that a bill designed to permit utilities to offer these programs was buried in the Senate Energy Committee, where it had languished for over a year under the watchful eye of SEU founder and Senator Harris McDowell. Which brings us to last night, and, for that matter, this morning. At 3:21:05 am, to be  precise. No, Sen. McDowell did not relent, nor did he release HB 179 from committee. So, how did this get done?
Delaware Political Weekly: June 21-27, 2014

Delaware Political Weekly: June 21-27, 2014

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Yes, Chris Coons has a Republican challenger. His name is <strong>Carl Smink</strong>. Here's what I know. He's filed, but hasn't announced.  He's from Milton. His website is under construction.  He has written a few op-eds, or maybe letters to the editor, for the Cape Gazette, none of which are readily available unless you're a subscriber. He <strong>IS, </strong>however,  a "Drill, Baby, Drill" kinda guy who hates socialism. Ok. Two Kent County state reps may not even make it to November, and I must say I'm surprised. Both <strong>Harold Peterman (33rd RD) </strong>and <strong>Don Blakey (34th RD) </strong>are being challenged. Peterman's opponent is <strong>Charles Postles</strong>, who appears to be the chair of...the <strong>33rd Republican RD Committee. </strong> Blakey's challenger is <strong>Lyndon Yearick</strong>,  who doesn't fit a Tea Party profile, at least not on the surface. Active in the United Way, mentoring programs,  and also the Chair of the 34th RD, Yearick looks like the kind of candidate R's looking to restore credibility to their Party would seek out. He's currently the Maryland/Delaware Campus Director for Kaplan Test Prep. He has an MBA from Penn State (OK, now <strong>that's </strong>a cult).  <a href="http://www.yatedo.com/p/Lyndon+Yearick/normal/a5ff349a0ada08c4fdcb0cf7b1c61be8">By far, one of the more  interesting candidate profiles I've come across. </a> My question is this: Why would two RD chairs primary sitting state legslators? Usually, the legislators themselves have a huge say in who the RD chair is. <strong>Is it possible that Peterman and/or Blakey are retiring even though they've filed?</strong> One would think so. C'mon Kent County, help me out here.
General Assembly Post-Game Wrap-Up/Pre-Game Show: Thurs., June 26, 2014

General Assembly Post-Game Wrap-Up/Pre-Game Show: Thurs., June 26, 2014

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The Senate approved a new Supreme Court Justice, Karen Valihura, and David Small as DNREC Secretary. I can’t let this go without a comment about Justice Carolyn Berger‘s resignation from the Delaware Supreme Court and her seemingly ‘injudicious’ comments. I don’t know it she’s right on the specifics of Markell not taking her seriously, but she’s right on point when it comes to, well, I guess the operative word is ‘paternalism’, when it comes to women appointees to judgeships. When I first started working in Dover, the operative word was ‘chauvinism’. I’ll leave it to others to decide whether paternalism is a step up from chauvinism. To me, it’s ‘same old wine in a brand new bottle’. From Philadelphia Business Journal:
Berger’s situation outlines a concern in some quarters in Delaware that women do not have enough of a role on the judicial branch. Berger said women have advanced on the state’s family court, superior court and court of common pleas. She is also the only female to serve on the Court of Chancery, which deals with business litigation. “Family court is the only court ever to have a woman chief judge,” Berger said. “The court of chancery has had no women judges for the past 20 years, despite the fact that several well-qualified women have applied in the past. And I’ve been the only woman on the supreme court. Many other states have more than one woman justice, and in several jurisdictions, women justices outnumber male justices.”
Maybe it’s the same menfolk arguing that Delaware’s courts are the nation’s most prestigious who, in their own paternalistic minds, don’t want the wimmenfolk messing with that reputation. Perhaps the wimmenfolk who are assuming the leadership role in the State Senate just might have something to say about this moving forward. I hope so. But, I digress. You can as well. In the comments section.
General Assembly Post-Game Wrap-Up/Pre-Game Show: Tues., June 24, 2014

General Assembly Post-Game Wrap-Up/Pre-Game Show: Tues., June 24, 2014

18 Comments
I really didn’t think this would happen, and, I must admit, I’m almost stunned that the General Assembly would choose political expediency over our deteriorating infrastructure. The Governor is not exempt from criticism. Far from it. Jack Markell (a) waited until an election year to play a game of chicken on infrastructure spending; (b) likened the need to continue our ongoing periodic road maintenance program to swallowing bitter medicine rather than pointing out the benefits to our state’s economy from having those great construction jobs; and (c) decided to (pardon the expression) muddy the waters by making this a two-fer with a proposed clean water initiative. Horrible messaging, horrible staff work. Still, I never expected the Delaware General Assembly, by dint of deliberate inaction, to blow (at least) a $70 million hole in the annual transportation capital budget. $70 million less spent on keeping our roads and bridges drivable in FY 15 than was spent in FY 14. (Well, maybe $60 mill, should the Honorables hike weekend tolls on Rt. 1.) This is blatant dereliction of duty. From the ridiculous (Valerie Longhurst proclaiming that she simply won’t allow a gas tax increase) to the equally-ridiculous (Greengrocer Hocker claiming that, since the D’s can’t pass this by themselves, he’s not going to ‘help’ them). Never mind everybody who drives in this state who will suffer the consequences. I’ve been around a long time. This Profile in Cowardice ranks near the top of the most cynical gestures ever to emerge from Dover. When the roads become pockmarked, you know who to blame. Call them on it. And if you live in one of these idiots’ districts, and you have the chance, vote against them. While ignoring public safety, the Honorables appear poised to provide another $10 million to help bail out the bad business decisions made by greedy racino millionaires who were literally given licenses to steal by the State. Who could possibly argue that our legislative luminaries have their priorities in order? Looks like we’re headed towards a horrible conclusion to what has generally been a good legislative session.
Delaware Political Weekly: June 14-20, 2014

Delaware Political Weekly: June 14-20, 2014

20 Comments
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."
General Assembly Post-Game Wrap-Up/Pre-Game Show: Thurs., June 19, 2014

General Assembly Post-Game Wrap-Up/Pre-Game Show: Thurs., June 19, 2014

8 Comments
Last day of the DIY reports, I promise. Got next week's work schedule, and it's 'green across the screen'. In the limited remaining time allotted to me today, I'll now proceed to scour my resources for stuff that interests me... Very happy to see the Senate pass SB 253(McBride), which ultimately conveys a parcel of property to Faithful Friends. Anyone who knows anything about Faithful Friends knows that they perform an invaluable public service in providing care and adoption services for stray and abandoned pets. A humane no-kill shelter with some of the finest staff and volunteers you'll ever meet. I find it ironic that the three senators who voted no reside in an area known for housing Delaware's worst (only?) puppy mills. The FY '15 Budget Bill was introduced and laid on the table in the Senate.  If you have time, read the Epilog Language. That's where all the sneaky stuff usually is. Yay! HB 331(Kowalko) unanimously passed the House yesterday!  The bill requires that both the University of Delaware and Del State comply with FOIA. And, unless I misread it, the House Amendment voted onto the bill strengthens the bill. The University must really have pissed off some important people.
General Assembly Post-Game Wrap-Up/Pre-Game Show: Tues., June 17, 2014

General Assembly Post-Game Wrap-Up/Pre-Game Show: Tues., June 17, 2014

9 Comments
Roads Held Hostage: Day...um, I Lost Count. Seven legislative days remain, still no word of any sort of fix to the $70 (or $90) million hole in the State's transportation/infrastructure budget. Looks like we're getting in 'patch, then kick the can down the road' territory. The very idea that D's can't or won't tout a needed $70 (or $90) mill road repair/jobs program pretty much defines what's wrong with Delaware's brand of 'Democrat'. BTW, since it looks like the 495 repair will cost somewhere around $20 mill, I'm hedging my bets as to whether the hole in our transportation funding is $70 mill or $90 mill. OK, there are only a few ways that I can write the same story day after day. Whether I'll run out of ways to write it before a fix is arrived at remains to be seen. Check back tomorrow. Oopsies. Did I say tomorrow? Breaking news, and it ain't good.  A real bleak fiscal picture, must-reading for anyone interested in what's gonna get funded and what will not. Here's the takeaway quote:
"The problem is that no one wants to raise taxes for anything. You don't want to raise the gas tax. You don't want to raise income taxes. You don't want a sales tax. You don't want any of these taxes, but you still want the infrastructure," Bhatt told lawmakers.
Speaking of infrastructure, DELDOT's capital proposal is $128 mill, $70 mill less than last year's. Revenue-shifting and the General Assembly's refusal to even consider a gas tax will mean deteriorating roads, bridges and infrastructure. Hey, hopefully they'll be out of office when stuff actually falls down. Then they can blame it on someone else. Cowardice. Proof that these election-obsessives don't live in a reality-based world.
Delaware Political Weekly: June 7-13, 2014

Delaware Political Weekly: June 7-13, 2014

36 Comments
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.
General Assembly Post-Game Wrap-Up/Pre-Game Show: Thurs., June 12, 2014

General Assembly Post-Game Wrap-Up/Pre-Game Show: Thurs., June 12, 2014

7 Comments
So, the I-495 bridge repair is gonna cost $20 million or so. About 60,000 vehicles, a lot of them trucks, are now grinding other Delaware roads, further degrading those road surfaces. Not so much as a peep out of the General Assembly as to how they’re gonna fund the $70 mill hole in the road/infrastructure funding. Which may now be $90 mill. Rethug signs still litter New Castle County, proclaiming ‘No New Gas Taxes’. Is anybody gonna do anything?