Rehoboth's Simpler triumphs in treasurer's race

Republican Ken Simpler, a native of Rehoboth Beach, will take over as state treasurer in January easily defeating Democrat Sean Barney.

Simpler, the first nonincumbent Republican to win any statewide office since 1994, received 53.6 percent of the vote statewide, while Barney garnered 43.6 percent and Green Party candidate David Chandler polled 2.8 percent.

"Delaware, thank you. You did, in fact, make it simpler," said Simpler from a raised podium in front of a large Delaware state flag in the lobby of the Avenue Inn, his election night headquarters. "I am humbled. I am honored. But in all honesty, not withstanding a long journey here, I am totally energized to be your next state treasurer."

While he was elected to a statewide seat, a closer examination of the numbers reveals that just like the Sept. 9 Primary against Sher Valenzuela, Simpler's Sussex County supporters propelled him to the convincing victory.

The two candidates were essentially tied when New Castle and Kent county ballots were counted, with Barney getting one more vote than Simpler: 81,890 to 81,889. 

In Sussex County, however, Simpler more than doubled Barney's total, 41,215 to 18,328.

"Lets face it, it's where I'm from. It's where several generations of Simplers are from," he said Nov. 6 of the strong Sussex County showing. "It's nice to a native son."

Simpler credited Republican-based organizations in the county with being exceptionally well organized and providing him with the opportunity to get his message out.

The night of the election, Simpler waited until Barney called to concede the race and congratulate him to address his supporters.

"He is a very honorable man," Simpler said of Barney. "He is a public servant and he would have liked to serve the state of Delaware. I think in this particular instance he chose the wrong office to express his desire to serve."

As a first-time candidate, Simpler said, he did not know what to expect on the campaign trail. Prior to running, he found many aspects of politics distasteful, shallow and shrill. But after talking with Delawareans the last several months, he said, most people want to make informed decisions and want to believe their candidate will make a difference.

He viewed the campaign as one long job interview. Now that he has the job, he said, he's ready to get to work.

"While it is an honor to be elected by your fellow men and women to serve, I do conceive of this as a job," he said. "I believe I have been hired to right the treasury. I believe I've been hired to do the best I can to fix our finances. Let me be clear, I will."

In other statewide races ...

In the U.S. Senate race, Democratic incumbent Chris Coons defeated two challengers, Republican Kevin Wade and Green Party candidate Andrew Groff.

Coons received 55.8 percent of the vote, Wade received 42.2 percent of the vote and Groff received 2 percent of the vote.

Coons was first elected to the seat in 2010.

In the U.S. Representative race, Democratic incumbent John Carney held off three challengers – Republican candidate Rose Izzo, Libertarian candidate Scott Gesty and Green Party candidate Bernard August.

Carney received 59.3 percent of the vote, Izzo received 36.8 percent of the vote, Gesty received 1.8 percent of the vote and August received 2.1 percent of the vote.

Carney was first elected to the seat in 2011.

In the race for Attorney General, Democratic candidate Lt. Gov. Matt Denn defeated four other candidates to take the empty seat. Sitting Attorney General Beau Biden did not seek re-election because he's decided to run for governor in 2016.

Denn received 52.8 percent of the vote, Republican candidate Theodore Kittila received 39.2 percent, Green Party candidate Catherine Damavandi received 4.6 percent, Independent Party candidate David Graham received 2.1 percent and Libertarian candidate John Machurek received 1.3 percent.

In the race for state auditor, Republican incumbent Thomas Wagner defeated Democratic challenger Brenda Mayrack with 54.2 percent of the vote. Wagner has served as auditor of accounts since 1989.