Rehoboth's Simpler wins GOP primary for state treasurer

Ken Simpler may live in New Castle, but his home is Rehoboth Beach.

Simpler, who grew up in the beach town and is the chief financial officer for the Rehoboth Beach-based Seaboard Hotels, kicked off his campaign for state treasurer on the Bandstand in May, and secured his place as the Republican representative for state treasurer in the Nov. 4 General Election after receiving nearly half his votes - 6,022 - from Sussex County.

Simpler defeated Milton resident Sher Valenzuela by a vote of 13,491 to 11,549 in the Sept. 9 primary.

The morning after the victory, Simpler said he was happy with the results, but the time to enjoy the moment would be fleeting. The goal of the campaign is to win the statewide seat, and this is a part of that process, he said.

Simpler congratulated Valenzuela on a hard-fought race, but, he said, the voters chose the candidate with the most experience. He said her message lacked the specificity needed to show she had the qualifications for the position.

“My message was a little more concrete,” he said.

Simpler will now face off against Democratic candidate Sean Barney in the General Election. Barney is an Iraq War veteran and former aide to U.S. Sen. Tom Carper and Gov. Jack Markell.

Simpler said going forward his message of experience won't change. He said he doesn't question Barney's sincerity about wanting to serve the people of Delaware, but, Simpler adds, there's nothing in Barney's past that suggests he capable of fulfilling the requirements of the office.

There were two other statewide races, a Republican primary for U.S. Senator and a Democratic primary for state auditor.

In the U.S. Senate race, New Castle resident Kevin Wade defeated Milton resident Carl Smink by a vote of 18,181 to 5,848.

Wade will face off against Democratic incumbent Chris Coons in the Nov. 4 General Election. Coons has been in office for four years. He defeated Republican candidate Christine O'Donnell in 2010 to fill the seat vacated by Vice President Joe Biden.

In the race for state auditor, Wilmington resident Brenda Mayrack defeated Wilmington resident Kenneth Matlusky by a vote of 12,090 to 9,896.

Mayrack will face off against Republican incumbent Thomas Wagner in the Nov. 4 General Election. In 2010, Wagner was re-elected to his sixth four-year term. He is the only Republican holding a state-wide office.

Voter turnout was low for the primary. According to the Delaware Department of Elections, 7 percent of registered Democrats voted and 14 percent of registered Republicans voted.

There was only one state legislative primary in Sussex County and Democratic voters chose Lincoln resident Patrick Emory as their representative to take on Senate Minority Leader F. Gary Simpson, R-Milford, in the Senatorial District 18 race.

Emory defeated Greenwood resident Gary Wolfe by a vote of 654 to 346.

Simpson has represented the district since 1999.