Share: 

Voting Info: Candidates vie for primary wins

State, county races will determine general election choices
September 6, 2018

Editor’s note: This story ran originally on August 22. We are reposting it for our readers’ information.

Local and state races in the Thursday, Sept. 6, primary include 20 candidates for Sussex County voters to choose.

Winners will represent their political parties in the general election held Tuesday, Nov. 6. Only voters registered as Republican or Democrat can vote in their party primary.

The following is a list of candidates running in state and Sussex County primaries:

U.S. SENATE

Democrats

Thomas Carper

Age: 71

Hometown: Wilmington

Family: My wife Martha and I have been married more than 30 years. We are the proud parents of two sons, Chris and Ben, and stepson Greg.

Education: Bacherlor's degree economics, Ohio State University; MBA, University of Delaware

Relevant experience: Retired Navy captain, Vietnam veteran, state treasurer, congressman, governor, U.S. senator

Top reason for running: I am running to continue to grow our economy, protect our environment and provide affordable, quality healthcare for all Americans.

Kerri Evelyn Harris

Age: 38

Hometown: Dover

Family: Two children

Education: Associate's degree in business from Howard Community College; pursuing bachelor's degree in nonprofit management from Wilmington University

Relevant experience: I am a veteran and mother and have been an advocate for my community for over a decade. I have worked with multiple organizations including the Center for Popular Democracy, Network Delaware, Delaware Alliance for Community Advancement, and the Opioid Network to fight for progress on the issues that most impact our communities and draft legislation at the state and federal levels. In my job as a program director at the Metropolitan Wilmington Urban League, I work with children to close the educational achievement gap. From my work, I have seen how Congress too often puts the interests of corporations ahead of the needs of working families.

Top reason for running: I’m running because we need leaders who represent all of us and will fight for Medicare for all, universal pre-K, and a $15 minimum wage.

 

Republicans

Eugene J. Truono Jr.

Age: 60

Hometown: Wilmington

Family: Married (Luis)

Education: Juris doctor from Widener University Delaware Law School, bachelor's in marketing from University of Delaware, graduated from Salesianum School

Relevant experience: Sanctions and regulatory work with U.S. and foreign governments, 30 years in the financial services industry relevant to budget, national debt and foreign policy, community service on nonprofit boards assisting low-income people in housing and education and assisting the disabled

Top reason for running: I have been blessed in my life and believe it’s time to give back for those blessings by committing to serving the people of Delaware.

Rob Arlett

Age: 51

Hometown: Frankford

Family: Wife, Lorna; children Justin, Jared

Education: Attended University of Hawaii and George Mason University

Relevant experience: Councilman, Sussex County Council; owner, Beach Bound Realty

Top reason for running: To be an advocate for Delaware and American families – economic growth, jobs, constitutional liberty, national security and leadership.

Roque de la Fuente

Age: 63

Hometown: San Diego

Family: five children – Roque De La Fuente III, Katayoun De La Fuente, Ricardo “Ricky” De La Fuente, Kassandra Karina De La Fuente and Kamila Katarina De La Fuente

Education: Bachelor’s degree in physics, mathematics and business administration, Anahuac University; doctor honoris causa for international business

Relevant experience: Roque “Rocky” De La Fuente is living proof that the American Dream can be achieved by those who are inspired to pursue it. He created real estate holdings and businesses throughout the United States while creating thousands of new jobs along the way. He is 100% bilingual and multicultural. By age 28, he was chairman of the National Dealer Council for the third largest automobile manufacture in the world.

Top reason for running: I am not a career politician. I am just like you. I live in the real world, not in the political one.

 

REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS

Republicans 

Lee Murphy

Age: 66

Hometown: Wilmington

Family: Raised three children; have four grandchildren

Education: Bachelor's degree in education from Rowan University 1976; attended Columbia University majoring in sports management

Relevant experience: I am a father and grandfather, helping to raise the two children of my deceased daughter, who fought opioid addition for years. I believe this gives me insight into the opioid crisis that many lack in Congress. I trained in college as a teacher and taught in Delaware schools for several years, which gives me firsthand experience with what needs to be done to provide quality education for all of our children. My 35-year career with Amtrak started on the “track gang,” where I laid rail and replaced ties. I moved up the ranks to train dispatcher, conductor, fireman, locomotive engineer and later management. During my career, I also worked for Conrail and Septa. My 32-year acting career has honed both my communication and listening skills, valuable assets sometimes not exercised by those in Washington. I have been a member of SAG-AFTRA for 25 years.

Top reason for running: We need solutions for the opioid crisis which affects my family and yours; leadership on immigration, healthcare, education and job creation. Let's stop partisan bickering.

Scott Walker

Age: none given

Hometown: Milford

Education: Graduate Brandywine High School, bachelor's degree political science, University of Delaware; attended graduate school, University of Delaware

Relevant experience: 2016 candidate for Congress. Experienced a full life of victories and defeats.

Top reason for running: I enjoy excellent health, I possess a profound faith in God, and I am a self-taught legal expert in constitutional law. I am running because our nation and our state are suffering from a constellation of problems: poverty, poor health, disillusionment and a lack of faith.

 

ATTORNEY GENERAL

Democrats 

Kathy Jennings

Age: 65

Hometown: Wilmington

Family: Two adult children, Billy and Becky

Education: Juris doctor, Villanova University School of Law, bachelor's degree in English, University of Delaware

Relevant experience: Former chief deputy attorney general, state prosecutor, criminal defense lawyer and chief administrative officer of New Castle County

Top reason for running: To make Delaware a place where justice is fair for everyone, where people suffering from addiction receive treatment, and where children are safe from harm.

Christopher Johnson

Age: 32

Hometown: Wilmington

Family: Married to Kate Soja Johnson

Education: Juris doctor from Delaware Law School at Widener University, bachelor's degree University of Delaware

Relevant experience: Legal counsel and criminal justice policy advisor to Gov. John Carney, litigation attorney for the City of Wilmington, private practice defense attorney; long-time board member for the Delaware Center for Justice and the Multicultural Judges and Lawyers section of the Delaware State Bar Association, voter protection attorney, starting with the Obama for America Legal Protection Team.

Top reason for running: As a long-time public servant and community organizer, I am running to end mass incarceration and bring fairness back to our broken criminal justice system.

Tim Mullaney Sr.

Age: 68

Hometown: Dover

Family: Married with six children and 13 grandchildren

Education: Associate's degree from Delaware Technical Community College, bachelor's degree from Delaware State University, and juris doctor from Widener Law School

Relevant experience: Retired Dover police lieutenant; eight years U.S. Marshal for the District of Delaware; county attorney and chief administrative officer for NCCO and eight years with Delaware Department of Justice, two years as director of consumer protection unit, two years as director of fraud division and four years as chief of staff to former Attorney General Beau Biden.

Top reason for running: A Mullaney administration will focus on protecting our children, the elderly, the financially disadvantaged, and ensuring all citizens are treated fairly by the justice system.

LaKresha Roberts

Age: 35

Hometown: Wilmington

Family: Husband Samuel Moultrie; daughter McKenzie, 6; son, Maximus, 4 months

Education: Juris doctor,Delaware Law School, bachelor's degree criminal justice, Pace University

Relevant experience: Attorney, formerly employed at the Delaware Department of Justice as the chief deputy attorney general under Matt Denn, as well as head of the family division.

Top reason for running: As attorney general I will work to protect citizens’ civil rights, reform our justice system to end mass incarceration and combat the opioid epidemic.

 

AUDITOR OF ACCOUNTS

Democrats 

Kathy McGuinnes

Age: 51

Hometown: Rehoboth Beach

Family: Husband, three children and two dogs

Education: Bachelor's degree in biology, Florida Institute of Technology; bachelor's degree in science pharmacy, Northeastern University; graduate of the FBI Citizens Academy

Relevant experience: Certified fraud examiner, former investigator for State of Delaware. For nearly two decades, I have served as a Rehoboth Beach commissioner. During my tenure, I pushed for the state to help fund a multi-million dollar streetscape aesthetics and several infrastructure upgrades as well as garner nearly $80 million in public and private investment in the city. Recently, my oversight of the new city hall construction project saved taxpayers thousands of dollars and led to a more efficient, accountable and transparent process. As a small business owner and serving on countless nonprofit boards, committees and commissions including the city Budget and Finance Committee, I know what it means to hold people accountable, create and stick to a budget and manage people.

Top reason for running: Combating waste, fraud and abuse; bring a common-sense approach to finding missed opportunities and ways our state can operate smarter, more efficiently, and more effectively.

Dennis Williams

Age: 59

Hometown:Wilmington

Family: Wife, Alexis, son, Edward

Education: Bachelor's degree in accounting and financial management, University of Delaware; masters’s in technology management, University of Pennsylvania

Relevant experience: Civilian auditor, U.S. Navy; controller, Atlantic Aviation; controller, Internal Controls Implementation, Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation; 10th District state representative, Delaware General Assembly 2008-2014, serving on Capital Infrastructure Budget Committee and Revenue and Finance Committee; chief financial officer, Historical Society of Pennsylvania

Top reason for running: To continue my record of public service by using my professional auditing, accounting, and legislative qualifications, experience, independence, and ethics to serve the people of Delaware.

Kathleen Davies

Age: 56

Hometown:Dover

Family: I have two brothers and two sisters; my husband and I have three married children and four grandchildren. Two of our grandchildren live in Delaware

Education: Bachelor's degree in professional accountancy from Pennsylvania State University, certified public accountant-PA, certified information systems auditor, certified government audit professional, certified government financial manager, certified fraud examiner

Relevant experience I have more than 25 years of experience in state government auditing and investigations. With 15 years as a director/senior staff member, I have performed various types of government audits and investigations and have served on various national government audit professional committees. I was brought to Delaware as the second in command for the Office of Auditor of Accounts for my technical background including my extensive experience with performance auditing and fraud investigations

Top reason for running: As a career government auditor, I have the leadership and technical experience to ensure the Office of Auditor of Accounts does its part to improve government services, provide transparency, and prevent fraud.

 

35TH REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICT

Republicans

Jesse Vanderwende

Age: 31

Hometown: Bridgeville

Family: Wife, Taylor

Education: Agribusiness degree, Delaware Technical Community College

Relevant experience: I have been active at Legislative Hall over the past several years and worked with our local legislators on a number of issues. Through my experience as a farmer and small business owner, I have successfully managed a budget and made a payroll creating over 40 jobs in our district. I have worked with the Delaware Department of Transportation, Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control and am involved in many local organizations.

Top reason for running: I have a strong sense of pride in our community. I will work to protect the Second Amendment, create jobs, preserve agriculture and address constituent concerns.

Robert D. Mitchell

Age: 50

Hometown: Greenwood

Family: Married for 29 years to wife, Michelle; three children – Emily, 25; Abigail, 24; Andrew, 21

Education: Delaware Technical Community College

Relevant experience: 30 years of financial and mortgage banking experience, Delmarva Christian High School school board

Top reason for running: To represent the citizens of the 35th District by utilizing my 30 years of financial experience to promote conservative and transparent fiscal policy in Dover.

 

DISTRICT 4 SUSSEX COUNTY COUNCIL

Republicans

George Parish

Age: 77

Hometown: Long Neck

Family: Wife, Bunny

Education: Bachelor of science degree, College of Business and Public Administration, University of Maryland, College Park, Md.

Relevant experience: Elected Sussex County Clerk of the Peace for two terms; served in the United States Army Reserves for six years and retired federal employee

Top reason for running: The “Let's Fix It” campaign will focus on fixing the traffic congestion by approving transportation improvement districts and by balancing infrastructure with development

 

Douglas B. “Doug” Hudson

Age: 58

Hometown: Bethany Beach

Family: Married to Dr. LouAnn Hudson for 28 years with one son, Jake, who attends West Virginia University

Education: Graduate of Indian River High School in 1978, degree in criminal justice from Delaware Technical Community College

Relevant experience: Numerous years of experience as a firefighter and Delaware State Trooper. As a member of the county planning and zoning commission, which deals with land use, we recently completed a revision of the comprehensive land use plan. During that time, I developed strong relationships with DelDOT personnel, which will help in working together on the problems of the lack of road infrastructure and traffic congestion in peak months. I am a life long resident of Sussex County, and with my knowledge of the county and its residents, I will be an asset to the overall improvement of the county. The opportunities I have had in serving the state and county prepared me well for a position on the county council.

Top reason for running: I’ve been in public service most of my life and enjoy serving on the planning and zoning commission. County council is the logical next step.

 

DISTRICT 5 SUSSEX COUNTY COUNCIL

Republicans

Kevin Christophel

Age: 30

Hometown: Laurel

Family: Wife, Alison; sons, Caleb, 11, Colbie, 9; and daughter Kenley, 3

Education: Bachelor’s degree in economics, University of Delaware

Relevant experience: President of Laurel Chamber of Commerce, board member of Laurel Community Foundation. Raised in a family furniture business, and eight years in the financial sector with a local community bank

Top reason for running: To preserve and grow, in responsible fashion, a business friendly environment, sustainable farming community, and a place our children can call home for their lifetime

 

John Rieley

Age: 62

Hometown: Laurel

Family: Married 38 years to the former Lou Ann Dorey, with 12 children She deserves to be Mother of the Year and she was.

Education: Bachelor’s degree in business with a minor in economics from Rochester Institute of Technology

Experience: I am currently a financial adviser and also own and operate a family farm near Millsboro. I served as chairman and vice chairman of the Sussex Republican Committee and served two years as president of the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce.

Top reason for running: To work for policies that will help keep Sussex a great place to live with a clean environment, healthy economy and low taxes for my children and grandchildren.

 

 

 

 

Subscribe to the CapeGazette.com Daily Newsletter