Four candidates are running for the 19th Senatorial District seat left vacant by the death last month of Senate President Pro Tempore Thurman Adams. A special election will be held, Monday, Aug. 3. Residents from Bridgeville, Georgetown, Greenwood and Milton are eligible to vote. Democrats, after a brief struggle, on Wednesday, July 8, nominated the late senator’s daughter, Polly Adams Mervine of Bridgeville, to run on the Democratic ticket. Democrats met in caucus last week and nominated Bridgeville resident Eddy Parker, who days later bowed out of the race for personal reasons.
Gwendolyn “Wendy” Jones of Milton is running on the Libertarian ticket, while Greenwood’s Matthew Opaliski is the Independent Party candidate. Rep. Joe Booth, R-Georgetown, is the GOP choice for the Senate seat.
Dave Burris, former Sussex County Republican chairman, said he’s organized two special-election campaigns. He said in special elections, voters are more likely to cast their votes for a candidate and not for a party, as they often do in general elections. “In a special election, much like a school board election, it’s convincing people to support you to vote.
It’s a pain in the neck to get people to vote in a special election,” he said.
Burris also said the Democratic Party is divided. “When you have people divided, you’ll have people take it out on the candidate.
“You have to be ignoring something to say that’s not a divided party there,” said Burris. Speaker of the House Bob Gilligan, D-Wilmington, said he looks forward to having another Democrat in the Senate. “I certainly wish Polly Adams well. She is a great individual, and I’m hoping she’s successful. She’ll have lots to contribute to the state Senate,” he said.
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