Lt. governor candidates connect with Sussex Countians at forum
Story Location:
Georgetown, DE 19947
United States
Immediately following a Feb. 29 forum among all six Democrats running for lieutenant governor in 2016, Mitch Crane was in a good mood.
All the candidates came, and close to 80 people attended, which is more than at the New Castle County debate earlier in the month, said Crane, Sussex County Democratic chair, from the floor of the party’s county home in Georgetown.
Hosted by the Eastern Sussex Democratic Club and Shore Democrats, the forum provided candidates the opportunity to convince Sussex County Democrats to support them.
The six candidates are Kathy McGuiness, Rehoboth Beach commissioner and businesswoman; Greg Fuller, Lincoln resident and former Sussex County register of wills; Kent County Levy Court Vice President Brad Eaby; New Castle County Register of Wills Ciro Poppiti III; Sen. Bethany Hall-Long, D-Middletown; and Wilmington City Councilwoman Sherry Dorsey Walker.
The message was delivered differently, but the candidates varied little on the issues. They all said they were against the death penalty and right-to-work laws; all six are in favor of a woman’s right to choose, creating jobs, improving senior care and establishing same-day voter registration.
Minimum wage was the one issue that drew debate.
Eaby said he thought $15 an hour was too high for minimum wage, but he agreed it should be more than the current $8.25.
Fuller said common sense says $15 an hour is too much for an entry-level position.
McGuiness, Poppiti and Walker said they were for employees making as much as they can.
As much as anything, the candidates spent the evening trying to convince members of the audience they could best represent the interests of Sussex Countians in Dover.
Hall-Long reminisced about being born to Sussex County farm family, while Eaby touted his role Kent County Levy Court’s ability to have nine straight years of balanced budgets.
McGuiness drew a noticeable gasp of acceptance when she said she had been involved with the Rehoboth Beach Fireworks for 18 years.
Poppiti hammered the point home that senior care needs to be better.
Walker discussed about surviving cancer and her loyalty to her home state.
Fuller said he is not satisfied with how the county was growing, how transportation issues were being handled and how homeless veterans were being treated.
The state’s lieutenant governor’s seat has been vacant since Matt Denn was elected attorney general in 2014.
The deadline to register for the Tuesday, Sept. 13 primary is Saturday, Aug. 20.
Chris Flood has been working for the Cape Gazette since early 2014. He currently covers Rehoboth Beach and Henlopen Acres, but has also covered Dewey Beach and the state government. He covers environmental stories, business stories and random stories on subjects he finds interesting, and he also writes a column called Choppin’ Wood that runs every other week. He’s a graduate of the University of Maine and the Landing School of Boat Building & Design.
