Pires asks Carper to reveal medical records

Attorney and Dewey Beach business owner Alex Pires officially filed for office July 16 as an Independent candidate for Delaware’s U.S. Senate seat, currently held by Democratic Sen. Tom Carper.

In May, Pires announced his intent to run against Carper and accused the incumbent of corruption.  Pires is now asking Carper to make his medical records public and prove he is fit to serve a fourth term in the U.S. Senate.

Pires said when Carper ran against former U.S. Sen. William Roth in 2000, Carper made Roth’s age and health an issue in the campaign.  “His whole campaign was focused on he was a young guy,” Pires said.

During a recent interview on talk radio, Pires said, Carper’s health came up in the discussion.  “I figure it’s an issue that’s turned its tables on him,” Pires said.

The candidate said before he decided to run for U.S. Senate, he met with Carper.  “It was obvious to me that he was not well,” Pires said.

Pires said constituents can’t gauge Carper’s health in person because he conducts Telephone Town Hall meetings, where callers phone-in to hear him speak.  “You don’t get to see the guy,” Pires said.

Pires said he was surprised people responded angrily to his comments about Carper’s health.  “I think I’m entitled to find out if he’s healthy,” Pires said.

Pires said he plans to publish his own most recent medical examination on his website, 36yearsisenough.com.  “I’m asking Carper to do the same,” he said.

“I don’t take any medications, I don’t do any drugs,” Pires said.  “The last time I used any drugs, I smoked grass when I was in college.  Anyone who said he didn’t smoke grass in the 60s is a pathological liar.”

Elected officials regularly ask women about contraception and abortion, Pires said, so it should be fair to ask a grown man running for office if he has health issues.   “What you ask a woman is five times more personal,” Pires said.  “These guys have a double standard.”

Carper’s campaign manager, John Collins, said Carper is in perfect health and Pires’ accusations are outrageous and unfounded.

“After finishing his U.S. Navy training in Pensacola, Fla., Tom Carper promised himself that he would carry that Naval commitment to physical excellence forward throughout his life,” Collins said.  “Thirty Caesar Rodney half marathons later, he still works out nearly every morning before catching the 7:15 a.m. train to Washington, where he is recognized as a national leader for promoting healthy lifestyles.”

Pires was unanimously selected as the Delaware Independent Party candidate for U.S. Senate at the party’s annual convention in Bridgeville, July 15.  In a press release, Pires said, “Their confidence is appreciated, and I am thrilled to be on the ballot.  I will work hard and defeat Tom Carper and the corrupt system he represents.”

According to the press release, Pires collected more than 9,000 signatures from supporters – 3,000 more than he needed to qualify for the ballot. "To make sure I got on the ballot I qualified in both ways," Pires said.

But Collins said Pires failed to collect the number of signatures he promised when his campaign began.

“Mr. Pires failed miserably to achieve the first, single-most basic goal of his campaign, which was to convince just one percent of Delaware voters to sign his petition to get on the ballot as an unaffiliated candidate,” Collins said.  “Now he's changed his voter registration and is attempting to distract voters with a sad and transparent smear campaign.”

Carper will face Smyrna Democrat Keith Spanarelli in the Tuesday, Sept. 11 primary election.  The winner will face Pires and New Castle Republican Kevin Wade in the Tuesday, Nov. 6 general election.

The deadline to register to vote before the primary election is Saturday, Aug. 18.