More than 100 local Republicans gathered Monday, March 8, at the Sussex County Association of Realtors headquarters in Georgetown to hear the hopefuls vying to be nominated GOP candidates at the May 15 state Republican convention.

Of 346 voting delegates, 83 will represent Sussex County, an area widely known for voting conservatively.

Keep in mind that in the 2008 general election, Sussex County was the only county in Delaware that voted a Republican for president, and the 14th District was the only district in the county to cast a majority vote for President Barack Obama.

Last year, Sen. Joe Booth, R-Georgetown, snagged a Senate seat in a special election, and Rep. Ruth Briggs King, R-Georgetown, kept Booth’s former seat in Republican hands.

Sussex County Republican Committee Chairman Ron Sams said according to some national polls, Obama’s popularity is sagging.

Republicans say federal spending is out of control, and they point to a healthcare reform measure that’s failed to make it out of Congress. They also say their call to downsize government should play well this year.

From Ocean View to Bridgeville, new members turned out at the meeting, including one member who recently switched from the Independent Party.

GOP strives for Congress

Rehoboth Beach’s Glen Urquhart, who filed for Castle’s seat, urged the audience not to lose their liberties to debt or tyrants.

“I’m a serious guy, not an entertaining guy. If you want, Delaware already has Joe Biden,” he said, drawing laughter.

Urquhart said he’s the best candidate for Congress with more connections in D.C. than Carney.

In the 1980s, he said he gained experience in the capital working under former CIA Director Bill Casey. President Ronald Reagan appointed him chairman of the National Capital Planning Commission, he said.

He vowed to return to policies strictly based on the U.S. Constitution. “We don’t have time left for someone to learn their way around Washington,” he said.

As a real estate developer, Urquhart said he’s funneled hundreds of thousands of his own dollars into his campaign, so he has a sizeable war chest and will be a formidable candidate against Carney.

Fred Cullis, also running for Congress, said Washington officials act like royalty. He said more money needs to be spent on national security.

“We need bullets to protect us, not lawyers to protect terrorists,” said Cullis, drawing widespread applause. He also said taxes need to be cut to stimulate the economy and that the “cash for clunkers” program was a waste of $3 billion. America needs to become energy independent, he said, and he said he would work for comprehensive medical-tort reform and what he called true immigration reform.

Not present at the meeting were Michelle Rollins, an upstate attorney and widow of multimillionaire John Rollins Sr., who announced Tuesday, March 9 that she is considering a run for the U.S. House. Kevin Wade of Wilmington also announced he is seeking the seat. Rose Izzo, of Brandywine Hundred, has filed to run for Congress, and in April she will address local Republicans.

GOP revs up for local races
With incumbents increasingly being voted out of office, local Republicans hope to sweep a few Democratic-entrenched seats, including the local seat held by House Majority Leader Rep. Pete Schwartzkopf, D-Rehoboth Beach.

Chris Weeks of Rehoboth Beach, who is considering a run in the 14th District, said Republican roots have grown deep and strong in Rehoboth. “Government does not create jobs, small business does,” he said.

Urquhart supported Weeks, saying the victory of Republican Scott Brown – the first Republican to win a Senate race in Massachusetts in nearly five decades – has invigorated Cape Region Republicans. Just as the Senate seat was not Kennedy’s, the 14th District seat is not Schwartzkopf’s, said Urquhart.

Weeks accused Democratic lawmakers in Dover of not supporting the tourist-dependent businesses along the coast. “I fear there’s a certain sentiment in Legislative Hall that tourists don’t vote. Let’s remind legislators that small business owners, their employees and families do vote,” he said.

When asked about his strategy to beat popular Schwartzkopf, Weeks said, “There’s not a lot of gray area in the race. He’s making it darn easy for me,” he said. “He thinks he’s the one who knows how to spend your money.”

In the 33rd District, Jack Peterman is running again for the House seat held by Rep. Bob Walls, D-Milford. Peterman, calling himself a conservative, said keeping taxes low helps small business hire workers. He also said under Democrats, many fees have doubled.

With two of the 33rd Representative District’s election districts located in Sussex County, Peterman encouraged Republicans to come out in force and elect him to office.

Said National Committeewoman Priscilla Rakestraw: “It’s amazing how many races and how many places Sussex County can make a difference.”