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Gary Downes
Age: 45
Key issues: land-use planning, economic development, healthcare reform
Downes is a self-employed business consultant specializing in employee health benefits. He received his bachelor’s degree from then-Salisbury State University in 1986. In 1991, he received his MBA from Wilmington University in 1991. He lives in Milford with his wife Victoria. He has two children.
Amount of money available 30 days prior to the election: $8,500
Gary Simpson
Age: 61
Key issues: fiscal responsibility, transportation, growth and infrastructure
Simpson is Assistant Director of Alumni and University Relations at the University of Delaware. He received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Delaware in 1969. In 1972, he also received his master’s degree from the University of Delaware. He lives with his wife in Milford.
Amount of money available 30 days prior to the election: $96,000.
Republican incumbent Sen. Gary Simpson of Milford is running against Democrat Gary Downes, also of Milford, for the 18th Senatorial District seat in the Nov. 4 general election. Downes ran unsuccessfully in 1998, losing to Simpson, who has held the seat since then.
The 18th Senatorial District runs from Milford to Long Neck. The district also includes unincorporated Lewes, Lewes and Rehoboth Beach. State senators serve four-year terms and make $42,750 a year. The Cape Gazette posed four questions to the candidates and their answers were limited to 75 words.
1. In light of the economic downturn, what cuts would you make to balance the state budget? Do you see any additional avenues to raise money?
Gary Simpson: We should exempt public schools from prevailing wage requirements, which would save about $21 million to $34 million annually. By consolidating school purchases and administrative functions, we could save an estimated $25 million to $34 million per year. If we pool our school and state office energy purchases and eliminate the Delaware State Testing Program, we could save $5 million annually. We could also eliminate postage by emailing pension statements to state retirees – a $150,000 annual savings. We should prepare food in prisons based on actual consumption, which would save us $1.4 million annually. By reviewing state employee cell phone usage, we could save about $1 million to $1.4 million annually. We could also standardize blueprints for schools that would save an estimated $10 million to $12 million per year.
Gary Downes: As a small business owner for the last 17 years, who has a master’s degree in business, I am well-versed in management, budgeting and taking fiscal responsibility. We need to run our government the same way I run my successful business. As your senator, I will raise revenue by stimulating the economy with better-paying jobs and cut costs by reducing wasteful spending and by being more accountable and efficient with taxpayer money.
2. Identify the most critical needs for seniors in your district and what you would do to provide for them.
Gary Simpson: The most critical needs for our seniors deal with prescription drugs, healthcare, affordable housing and an ever- increasing cost of living. Delaware’s prescription drug plan has been extremely successful in its first few years of operation, and I foresee that program continuing. We must do everything we can to protect our local hospitals to continue providing for our seniors. We should expand and increase the quality of nursing programs at Beebe and Del Tech. In order to provide affordable senior housing, we might want to consider providing real estate tax incentives to developers to give them the stimulus to build these types of communities and senior housing units.
Gary Downes: The cuts to our state budget, along with increased cost of living, have hit seniors on fixed incomes harder than any other population. We cannot continue to cut funding for their critical needs. As your senator, I will support programs for more affordable housing, better transportation and affordable prescription drugs. I will restore funding to CHEER, the senior centers and the meal programs that provide the valuable services our seniors rely on.
3. Delaware schools spend more per student than any other state, but Delaware test scores are lagging. How can the state ensure that money spent on education produces a well-educated workforce?
Gary Simpson: More money has to be taken out of the administrative function of our schools and placed back in the classroom where it belongs. Today, as never before, there are entirely too many administrators per student, and this is just unacceptable, especially given tight economic times. Our public school administrators need to be given the same freedom on how they spend their education dollars as charter school administrators. This will help ensure that more dollars actually go into classroom instruction where it is needed rather. than by a standardized formula developed by the Department of Education.
Gary Downes: As your senator, I look forward to working with the education community, local businesses and parents to support goals of Vision 2015 and provide each and every child a world-class education. It is critical for Delaware in order to compete in a high-tech economy that we graduate young people with the tools they need to enter the work force. I will encourage career pathways that are technologically based and connected to the needs of our local business community.
4. Name a Delaware public servant who serves you as a role model.
Gary Simpson: I would have to say that former Gov. Pete DuPont serves as a role model for fiscal responsibility and former Gov. Russell Peterson serves as a role model for environmental stewardship. They are both remarkable for their political courage to do the right thing.
Gary Downes: I have always been a great admirer of Sen. Tom Carper. I view him as one of our most sincere and dedicated public servants and have tried to model my public service by his example.
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