Scott Walker announces congressional candidacy

Milton resident Scott Walker said there’s one simple reason he decided to announce his candidacy for the soon-to-be vacant seat of U.S. Representative John Carney – freedom.

As time goes along, said Walker, people in Delaware, and America, are gradually becoming less free.

“It’s a struggle that I can really see happening,” said the 64-year-old father of four during a recent interview. “As a nation, things are going to look a lot different in the next few years if we don’t do something.”

Walker, who owns a floral contracting business in New Castle County, said laws written about women’s rights to choose, racial equality and economic opportunities have been effective enough at protecting the people.

These things are hurting the economy, he said.

“We’ve got to have a strong, robust economy,” said Walker. “In order to do that, we’ve got to have our freedoms, with a free market based on a person’s individual freedoms.”

Walker joked the last time he ran for an elected office was when he ran for student council at Brandywine High School, but, he continued, he’s helped the poor and disabled in Wilmington through two organizations he founded – the Civil Rights Center and the Disabled Disadvantaged Delawareans Foundation.

Walker joins an already crowded field interested in succeeding Carney, who has represented Delaware in Washington, D.C., since 2011 and is stepping down to run for governor. Term limits prevent Gov. Jack Markell from running for a third term.

As recently as last week, there were five Democrats who had announced their candidacy, but Rep. Bryon Short, D-Highland Woods, announced earlier this week that he was dropping out of the race. The remaining Democrats include Sean Barney, a Democrat from Wilmington, Sen. Bryan Townsend, D-Newark, former state Labor Secretary Lisa Blunt Rochester and Lewes businessman Mike Miller.

There are also two Republicans who have announced – Former Wyoming Mayor Hans Reigle and activist Rose Izzo.

Walker, a registered Democrat, said he hasn’t decided which party he’ll run under. According to the State Election Commissioner’s 2016 election calendar, Walker has until May 27 decide.

“I’m going to make my decision soon,” he said.

Walker said the lack of choice among candidates is another reason he decided to run. The way he sees it, he said, all the candidates are ingrained into the political world in some way.

“A lot of them are already working for the government,” he said. “I don’t owe anybody anything. People need someone who can be strong in office, and I’m that person.”

The deadline to file for the Sept. 13 primary is July 12.