Milton Democrat challenges Smyk in District 20
Milton resident and political newcomer Jack Bucchioni said it’s going to take a well-run campaign to defeat three-term Republican incumbent Steve Smyk in the 2018 race for the 20th Representative District seat.
“I need to get all the organization up and running now, as I know I'm the underdog statistically and need to get going,” said Bucchioni in a Jan. 7 email. “We will soon see how this underdog enters the playing field, as any statistic can be overcome with a well-run campaign.”
Bucchioni, a 66-year-old Democrat who has lived within the district’s boundaries since 2011, said he brings three decades of business executive and educator experience to the table. He said he plans on filing his candidacy paperwork Thursday, Jan. 11, at the Sussex County Department of Elections.
Bucchioni had a laundry list of initiatives including attracting new businesses, affordable women's healthcare facilities and jobs with permanent career opportunities.
Bucchioni said he would like to attract more doctors to the underserved district by relaxing the licensing and testing process for doctors moving to Delaware from other states. Doctors already have passed national licensing medical exams, he said.
Bucchioni said he would introduce legislation to build a fast middle and last mile “Community Fiber Optics Public Option” utility.
“This is what relocating industries are now looking for in areas of expansion,” he said.
Bucchioni declined to rate Smyk’s performance as a legislator, saying only his running is his statement.
“We can do better with a change in District 20 leadership,” he said.
Bucchioni has a B.S. in education from Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania, and an M.S. in education from Binghamton University, New York.
He is a recurring advisory panel member for the Global Consulting Practicum at The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania.
Bucchioni has served as the national president of the National Association of Fundraising Companies trade association. He is a member of the Milton Lions Club, Lewes American Legion Post 17, the League of Women Voters and St. Jude’s Catholic Church in Five Points.
Bucchioni and his wife, Linda, have two sons, a daughter and five grandchildren.
The 20th Representative District includes all or part of Lewes, Milton, Broadkill Beach, Harbeson, Cool Spring and Angola.
Additional 2018 election information
Sussex County Sens. Ernie Lopez, R-Lewes, and Bryant Richardson, R-Laurel, are also up for re-election. Lopez filed his re-election papers in December.
In addition, all state representatives are up for re-election, including Speaker of the House Rep. Pete Schwartzkopf, House Minority Leader Rep. Daniel Short and Reps. Dave Wilson, Harvey Kenton, Ruth Briggs King, Donald Gray, Timothy Dukes and Richard Collins. Schwartzkopf is the only Democrat.
In statewide races, Attorney General Matt Denn has announced he’s not running for re-election, State Treasurer Ken Simpler has announced his intentions to run for a second term and State Auditor Thomas Wagner hasn’t announced anything.
At the federal level, U.S. Sen. Tom Carper and, like all members of the House of Representatives, Congresswoman Lisa Blunt Rochester are up for re-election. U.S. Sen. Chris Coons is up for re-election in 2020. All three of the state’s federal legislators are Democrats.
The deadline for candidates to file for a statewide office and all other offices is noon, Tuesday, July 10.
The statewide primary election is set for Thursday, Sept. 9. The deadline to register to vote for the primary is Saturday, Aug. 11.
The statewide general election is set for Tuesday, Nov. 6. The deadline to register to vote for the general election is Saturday, Oct. 13.
