Delaware State News DOVER — With the Iowa caucuses complete and New Hampshire’s presidential primary looming on Tuesday, the 2012 election season is officially underway.
In Delaware, the Republican Party is gearing up for a fight against Democrats — vowing to add some red into the state’s predominately blue areas.
“We have a number of candidates who are preparing to challenge Democrats across the state,” said state GOP chairman John Sigler.
“You’re going to see a number of races that are going to be competitive this time that have probably not been competitive in the past. It is our intent to end one-party rule in Delaware.”
Republicans currently hold just one statewide elected office — state auditor Tom Wagner — but the party is hoping to change that with candidates who are “real people,” said Mr. Sigler.
“I’m very pleased with the number of what I refer to as “real people,” folks who have real jobs, real families and who have a real love for the state of Delaware, who are saying enough is enough. It’s time for me to step forward and be counted,” he said.
That includes candidates for Delaware’s U.S. House and Senate seats, governor, lieutenant governor and insurance commissioner.
Even more Republicans are expected to join the races in the coming months, Mr. Sigler said.
“It’s still way early for these folks to be jumping into races,” he said. “You’re probably going to see a lot more activity as this month moves forward and well into March and April.”
Candidates have until noon on July 10 to file for a statewide or other elected office. According to the state elections department, no candidates have officially filed yet, but that’s expected since the filing deadline is still months away.
Restoring balance
Several potential candidates have expressed an interest in running for statewide office under the Republican Party platform. Some of the names will be familiar to Delawareans and some won’t be.
Tom Kovach is a name many Delawareans have heard before. The former state representative and current New Castle County Council president has announced he will run for the U.S. House seat currently held by Democratic Rep. John Carney.
With Democrats controlling all three of the state’s congressional seats, the General Assembly and all but one of the statewide elected offices, Mr. Kovach said he felt the time was right to seek federal elected office to bring balance back to the First State.
“After the general election in 2008, in Delaware we really lost a sense of balance, which in my view provides a lot more effective government,” he said. “ When you have both sides of an argument working with each other and working against each other, I think you have the most productive form of government.”
When one party holds the majority in several levels of government, the interests of that party take precedence over the interests of the people, Mr. Kovach said.
“That’s not on every vote or every issue, but it creates a real problem,” he said. “It shuts down that independent thought. It’s critical in times when we need government to adapt to change to bring in voices from the outside.
"Taking care of special interests that have been controlling Delaware government and national politics needs to change. We need to represent the vast interest of the people of this country.”
Restoring balance in the state is also one of the reasons why Milford businesswoman Sher Valenzuela said she plans to run for lieutenant governor of Delaware.
“At the very least we need balance in government,” she said. “If nobody ever shows up, how do we find balance? We have to at least give citizens a choice.”
Mrs. Valenzuela owns First State Manufacturing with her husband Eliseo. She said running the business for several years has taught her important lessons that she can use as lieutenant governor.
“As a business owner, I look at what it takes to create jobs,” she said. “I know what it’s like not to be dependent on somebody other than myself, and I know what it’s like to create paychecks for other people.”
Primary race
For at least one race, Delaware Republicans will have to vote in a primary election to choose which of two candidates will represent their party.
Benjamin Mobley, of Middletown, and James Van Houten, of Bear, have both expressed an interest in running for the office of state insurance commissioner.
Mr. Mobley has worked for the last 10 years as a financial investment adviser and he holds insurance licenses in multiple states.
“I understand both an insurance perspective and in addition to that I have the consumer perspective as well,” Mr. Mobley said.
As prices continue to rise on everything from groceries to gas, Mr. Mobley said having this knowledge of what the everyday consumer is experiencing is important especially as Delawareans face trying financial times.
“There’s a trickle-down cost to the consumer when it comes to insurance, and I think in a state where 25 percent of residents are on Medicaid, we’re starting to price people out,” he said.
This is Mr. Mobley’s first time running for office.
Mr. Van Houten has more than 20 years of experience in the insurance industry and also holds insurance licenses in multiple states. He previously ran in 2010 for the state House of Representatives.
“I’ve been in the business for 20 years, and I’ve sold all lines of insurance,” Mr. Houten said.
With numerous years of insurance experience, Mr. Houten said he feels he is especially qualified to be Delaware’s insurance commissioner.
“The position of insurance commissioner is right up my alley, as they say,” he said. “I can immediately go in and start making changes that will benefit the citizens of the state of Delaware.”
‘A Republican year’
With Republican candidates gradually filling up the ballot, Mr. Sigler said he’s optimistic that this year will be a successful year for the party in Delaware.
“I view this as a new beginning for Delaware,” he said. “I’ve used that as my theme since I’ve been chairman and I firmly believe that this will be a Republican year up and down the ticket both in Delaware and the nation.”
As long as the party can continue to attract everyday citizens as candidates for the election, Mr. Kovach said he’ll share Mr. Sigler’s optimism.
“I think there’s a fantastic opportunity for Republicans in Delaware if we welcome people right and make sure that we’re inclusive rather than exclusive,” he said, adding that he has only been actively involved with the party for three years but has gained widespread support up and down the state.
“What an opportunity we have as a party to bring in people who have business perspectives,” continued Mr. Kovach. “We can legitimately brand ourselves as a party representing the people. To some it sounds corny, but it really represents the fundamental principles of our government.”
Staff writer Jessica Eisenbrey can be reached at 741-8242 or jeisenbrey@newszap.com.