Shirley Price kicks off campaign for 38th District Representative

Surrounded by her husband, mother, sister and niece in the Roxana Fire Hall, lifelong 38th District resident and current Long and Foster Realtor Shirley Price recently kicked off her campaign to represent the 38th in the Delaware House of Representatives.

“I want to work to protect our families, our seniors and our businesses,” Price said. “I promise to work hard to make a difference in your neighborhood and our communities to make life better for all of us.”

Price went on to outline the “Four E's” of her campaign platform: education; economy; environment; and, empathy for our citizens.

• Education: “We need to look at education not just in terms of classroom instruction, but also from the perspective of the overall development and nurturing of our children as an investment in our future. I will work to ensure that our schools educate our children for the future.”

• Economy: “We need to make sure that our tax dollars are spent wisely, budgets are balanced, and that we leave as much as we possibly can in taxpayers’ pockets. I promise to look at every expenditure carefully, as though I had to personally write the check. I will work to support jobs that last and will be mindful of the needs of our business community.”

• Environment: “Protecting our precious natural resources - our beaches, ocean and Inland Bays - is an important responsibility and a sacred trust. I will work to make our bays fishable and swimmable and to be an advocate for renewable energy.”

• Empathy for Our Citizens: “The senior population in Delaware is projected to increase by over 1,000 percent in the next 30 years, bringing challenges related to transportation, long-term care and the needs of the homebound. I will work to obtain the services that our senior population needs.”

House Majority Leader Pete Schwartzkopf applauded Price as a tireless champion of her constituents when she represented the 38th District from 1996 through 2002, highlighting just some of her legislative accomplishments:

• Securing increased funding for local senior centers

• Increasing the pension exclusion for the retired population

• Sponsoring legislation to protect Delawareans from identify theft

• Supporting teachers and students to build a stronger, better educational system

• Drafting a bill permitting Delawareans to check off funds for the Veterans Home in Milford on their state tax returns

• Fighting successfully to save state park land at Indian River Inlet

• Creating a Volunteer Fire Service Revolving Loan fund to make loans to volunteer fire, rescue and emergency medical services companies to upgrade equipment at less expense

• Sponsoring a bill to give World War II veterans who dropped out of high school to defend this country those long-awaited high school diplomas.

Schwartzkopf also spoke of Price’s volunteer accomplishments in community activities that touch the lives of virtually all 38th District residents. He cited her long history of community involvement, including serving actively on the local schools’ parent groups from elementary school to high school; working on the committee that put the first paramedic units on the streets; serving 20 years with the Girl Scouts; serving as a board member of the Bethany-Fenwick Area Chamber of Commerce and chairing its surf fishing tournament for 13 years; serving on the Friends of the South Coastal Library Board; and being a member of the Lord Baltimore Lioness Club and the University of Delaware Sea Grant Advisory Committee.

Currently, Price serves the following organizations: CHEER, a nonprofit group dedicated to providing services to the senior population; Ocean View Historical Association; Center for the Inland Bays’ Citizens Advisory Committee; Delaware Seashore Preservation Foundation; Center for the Inland Bays Foundation; South Coastal AARP Scholarship Committee; and Women’s Civic Club of Bethany Beach.

Schwartzkopf then read letters of endorsement from Gov. Jack Markell and Delaware Attorney General Beau Biden.

In his letter,Markell observed, “I know Shirley will be a reliable and responsible voice in Dover for the issues that matter to Delawareans and that I have tried to work on as governor - creating jobs, improving our schools and governing responsibly. Her concern for the environment and for those in our state who need our help will serve the people of the 38th District well.”

Biden added his support, saying “Shirley Price is a tireless advocate for the citizens of the 38th District, something she proved every day when she served in Dover. Shirley understands how important it is to protect Delaware’s children from those trying to harm them. I hope you will join me in working to send Shirley Price back to Dover.”