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James DeMartino running for 14th District

Republican attorney said he wants to give voters a choice
March 18, 2016

Story Location:
Angola, DE
United States

James DeMartino said democracy works better when people have a choice.

“When there’s competition, people get a better results,” said the Republican the morning after announcing his candidacy for the 14th Representative District seat.

DeMartino, who lives in the Angola area, announced during the Eastern Sussex Republican Club’s monthly meeting March 14. He said he’s aware Schwartzkopf, a Democrat, has faced few political challengers since taking office in 2002.

“I want to represent the people who haven’t been represented,” said DeMartino.

Most recently a resident of Washington, D.C., DeMartino has been living in the area for 3 years and, he said, started attending Sussex County Republican meetings as soon as he moved here.

DeMartino said he’ll focus his campaign on improving the local business environment and education.

As a child, his parents owned a fish market in New York City. He said growing up that retail environment made him very aware of business conditions and the importance of good work environments from a young age.

He said education is key, because if students aren’t getting the proper education, then companies with good jobs aren’t going to want to come here.

DeMartino was in the Marine Corps for 14 years and after leaving he worked as a government contractor and business consultant. He's also an attorney, working in the art and entertainment industry, representing young artists and teaching them about intellectual property rights.

This will be DeMartino’s second time running for a seat as a Republican in a district dominated by Democrats. In 2010, he ran for the Ward 6 seat on the Washington, D.C. City Council. The ward is in the Capital Hill area of the city, and he said, the Democrats outnumber Republicans 8 or 9 to 1.

DeMartino lost that race, but it’s not a deterrent now.

“I look forward to challenges,” he said.

Exactly what the challenge will be is not yet decided, because Schwarztkopf has a primary for the first time since taking office. Don Peterson, a Democrat from Rehoboth, announced his candidacy March 2.

DeMartino said he’s more interested in providing district constituents with choices than unseating one person specifically.

“I’m a viable candidate who understands the issues,” he said.

The 14th Representative District includes Rehoboth, Dewey and the Angola area. The deadline to register for the Tuesday, Sept. 13 primary is Saturday, Aug. 20.

The deadline to register the for the Tuesday, April 26 presidential primary is Saturday, April 2.

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