|
Democrats are two seats away from gaining control of the House and two tight races in Sussex County could upset the 22-19 Republican majority in the upcoming 145th General Assembly.
Former Rep. John Atkins, a Republican, resigned last year, and Republican Rep. Ben Ewing’s resignation this year has produced a pair of closely watched races in Sussex County.
Last year, Atkins faced possible disciplinary action after a House Ethics Committee investigation. In October 2006, he was arrested in connection with a domestic dispute, and it later surfaced that he had also been stopped – but not charged – for driving under the influence of alcohol. Republican Greg Hastings won the seat in a special election, but Atkins garnered 600 votes even though he wasn’t on the ballot.
Since then, Atkins has switched to the Democratic Party in an attempt to regain his seat.
Atkins has also pledged support for many of the manufactured homeowners in his district. According to 41st District Democratic Party Chairman Don Ward, Atkins has a lot of Democratic support. He will face off in a Sept. 9 primary against Barbara Lifflander, D-Millsboro, who lost twice to then-Republican Atkins – in 2004 and 2006.
Ward said the 41st District has not endorsed Atkins or Lifflander and won’t endorse any candidate until mid-August.
Hastings, a one-term incumbent, could face Atkins, now running as a Democrat. Atkins previously held the seat for three terms. Ward said he sees a lot of Atkins’ signs in Democratic front yards of Millsboro, but the big question is will Republicans now support a Democratic Atkins.
Sussex County Republican Committee Chairman Ron Sams said, “The first hurdle for Atkins will be Barbara Lifflander. That will come down to the primary. It will depend how on well Democrats support him. Historically, he defeated her twice, but it’s different now,” said Sams.
Sams said Republicans have been working closely with Hastings to present a strong campaign and retain the Republican seat.
“Certainly, I think anybody in Dover would tell you the 41st District is going to be the one to watch,” said Ward, who said Democrats have a good shot at wresting the seat from Republicans.
“It’s not every day you have a situation like we have in the 41st. In fact, I’ve never seen anything like it in my life. I don’t think much would really surprise me this year. We’ll have a primary runoff for governor; we’ve had a protracted campaign between Obama and Hillary; and now, we have John Atkins,” said Ward.
A change in the House?
Sams says the other closely watched, contentious Sussex race will happen in the western side of the county in the 35th District, which stretches all the way to Georgetown.
In Bridgeville, Republican incumbent Rep. Ben Ewing, in office since 1987, announced his resignation in June for health reasons. In that district, Republican and Lincoln resident Dave Wilson, Sussex County Recorder of Deeds, will run against a well-known Democrat, Bridgeville resident Aaron Chaffinch, a former state police superintendent.
With Republican Ewing stepping down, the seat in that district is left wide open.
Sams said both major party candidates are strong and called that competition a wild-card race.
Chairman of the Sussex County Democratic Party Tom Chapman agrees.
“That’s going to be a very competitive race. Aaron Chaffinch is born and bred in the Bridgeville-Greenwood area. He’s a public servant who knows a lot of people,” said Chapman.
He added that Wilson is a lifelong Sussex County resident from the eastern part of the county.
“Wilson ran an extremely organized campaign and race against Howard Clendaniel in 2006. We would be foolish not to take Wilson’s candidacy seriously,” Chapman said.
“That’s going to be a tight race. If that seat stays in the Republican camp, at least from Sussex County, we’ll keep the Republicans in charge,” said Sams.
Other Sussex County contests
All but one of the Cape Region incumbents have filed for re-election. Three representative district seats remain uncontested at press time.
In the 14th Representative District, which includes Rehoboth Beach, popular Democratic incumbent Rep. Pete Schwartzkopf is seeking a fourth term. Sussex County Republican Committee Chairman Ron Sams said Republicans have not found a strong candidate to run against Schwartzkopf.
“He’s a tough competitor. At this point, I’m still looking for a candidate, but I’m not anticipating one,” Sams said.
In the Milford area’s 36th District, no Democratic candidate has surfaced to run against Republican incumbent Rep. George Carey, who was first elected in 1984.
Rep. Gerald Hocker, R-Ocean View, is also seeking his fourth term. No Democrat challenger has emerged in that race.
Lewes Democrat Helen Truitt will face off against popular incumbent and former Georgetown mayor, Rep. Joe Booth, R-Georgetown, who is also seeking his fourth term.
In the 18th Senatorial District, popular Republican incumbent Sen. Gary Simpson, who has been in office since 1998, is seeking re-election. Simpson will run against Milford resident Gary Downes, who lost the race to Simpson in 1998.
With the primaries just six weeks away, candidates have until noon Friday, July 25 to file for office.
|
