Delaware
Hall-Long’s Delaware gubernatorial primary foes say new report exposes corruption
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This story was supported by a statehouse coverage grant from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.
Delaware Lt. Gov. Bethany Hall-Long has contradicted a new state Department of Elections report that found she and her husband were paid $33,000 more than they reportedly loaned her campaigns; however, her two opponents in the Democratic gubernatorial primary on Friday said that the report shows she’s corrupt and unfit for state government’s highest office.
The report and related documents that were released late Thursday — including copies of canceled checks — concluded that Hall-Long’s political campaigns repeatedly violated state law from 2016 to 2023 by not disclosing nearly $298,000 in payments to her husband Dana, who had been her campaign treasurer, or reporting $266,000 in loans to the campaign.
Hall-Long is embroiled in a three-way primary race with New Castle County executive Matt Meyer and former state environmental chief Collin O’Mara. The election is Sept. 10 — less than seven weeks away.
Despite the harsh report, state elections commissioner Anthony Albence, whose office had hired former Philadelphia FBI chief Jeffrey Lampinski to investigate the matter, told Hall-Long in writing that he was not referring the findings to Attorney General Kathy Jennings for possible criminal prosecution. Jennings said she concurred and pledged to work toward strengthening election laws so that similar issues don’t arise in the future.
Jennings issued a written statement that said if charges were brought, a defense attorney “could credibly attribute the committee’s errors to carelessness. We cannot pursue charges where the law does not provide the standards to do so; but neither should we abide a precedent that flouts the spirit of the law when committees demonstrate negligence.”
Hall-Long received the report last week and had urged Albence in writing not to release the investigatory files, arguing they were not public documents, “until such time as we can discuss our concerns with you.” Albence responded in an email that he did “not intend to publicly post or release” the report unless a public records request was made.
WHYY News made a Freedom of Information Act request last Tuesday for the files upon learning that the report had been completed after a six-month investigation, and Albence’s office released it late Thursday afternoon, nine days later. Sources have said Jennings had prodded Albence to make the report public.
Albence had not responded to requests for interviews about Hall-Long’s campaign finances since issues arose publicly last fall following a revolt within her campaign over more than $200,000 in unreported payments to Dana Long. Albence similarly has not made any comment since the report’s release.
Hall-Long would not agree to an interview about the report, but continued her practice of releasing written statements about the controversy, as she has over the last nine months.
The statement Hall-Long released late Thursday night reiterated that she “voluntarily disclosed discrepancies with previous campaign finance reports” in the fall and since then has cooperated with Albence’s office “on a confidential process to amend previous campaign finance reports.”
Hall-Long’s statement added that she will always “address any bookkeeping discrepancies head on” and noted that “none of this will be referred to the attorney general.”
In November, Hall-Long amended seven years of campaign reports to disclose $308,000 in loans and $207,000 in repayments to herself — not her husband. Her 2023 report, filed in January, forgave what the campaign said was an unpaid loan balance of more than $100,000.
She added that “contrary to the Lampinski preliminary report, our family has loaned the campaign more money than we have been reimbursed and we have forgiven that remaining loan balance.”
Lampinski’s report said that based on the bank records, finance reports and documents provided by Dana Long and the campaign, “I cannot account for the difference in their public reporting and my findings.”
Hall-Long’s categorization of Lampinski’s report as “preliminary” stands in contrast, however, to what Albence informed her Tuesday about the 16-page document.
“Please be advised that the report, dated and issued to me on July 13, 2024, by Mr. Lampinski, is his final report, not a draft. … this final version of the report is not subject to change,” Albence wrote in an email, adding that her attorney could feel free to respond to him.
In light of Lampinski’s findings, Albence also directed Hall-Long to further amend her reports to “to ensure all committee transactions … are accurately and fully reported.”
Klondike Kate’s Christmas makeover in Newark features The Grinch
Klondike Kate’s turns to an unlikely hero in its fifth season of holiday-themed transformations as The Grinch gets his spotlight at the Newark bar and restaurant for 2024’s Christmas festivities.
This holiday season, the Delaware State Fair wants to warm you up for summer 2025 with headliners CeCe Winans and comedian Gabriel “Fluffy” Iglesias.
Tickets for both shows are now on sale.
Here’s what you need to know about legendary singer CeCe Winans and the acclaimed entertainer Fluffy, plus how to secure tickets to their performances.
Who is Gabriel ‘Fluffy’ Iglesias?
Gabriel “Fluffy” Iglesias is arguably the cuddliest comedian in the world. This jolly giant is coming back to Harrington this summer with more shenanigans.
Fluffy, who headlined the Delaware State Fair in 2023 and 2017, has over 25 million followers across his social media platforms. The comedian’s ability to dish up clean while still making all ages laugh has separated him from the pack. Fluffy will work his magic to squeeze big laughs out of the audience when he returns to the Small Wonder.
How much are tickets to see Gabriel ‘Fluffy’ Iglesias?
Fluffy’s show at the Delaware State Fair starts at 7:30 p.m. on Sunday, July 20. Tickets are $48-$84. For tickets, visit delawarestatefair.com.
Who is CeCe Winans?
CeCe Winans is recognized as the best-selling and most award-winning female gospel artist of all time. She has won 15 Grammy Awards, plus 27 Dove Awards and 16 Stellar Awards, according to her bio.
Beyond being a respected gospel singer, CeCe has established a legacy as one of the most accomplished female music artists of all time. She currently has one more Grammy Award than superstar singer Taylor Swift.
Some of the notable songs CeCe is known for singing include “Goodness of God,” “Holy Forever,” and “Count on Me” with Whitney Houston.
In October, CeCe dropped her new Christmas album titled “Joyful, Joyful.”
CeCe is one of 10 siblings in the famous musical family, The Winans, and is widely known for performing alongside her brother Benjamin in the acclaimed duo BeBe & CeCe Winans. In addition to BeBe & CeCe, her parents and siblings have released music under a wide variety of names including Mom and Pop Winans (CeCe’s parents) and The Winans (four of CeCe’s brothers).
How much are CeCe Winans tickets?
CeCe Winans’ show at the Delaware State Fair starts at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, July 22. Tickets are $38-$73. For tickets, visit delawarestatefair.com.
When is the Delaware State Fair?
The 106th Delaware State Fair (18500 S. Dupont Highway, Harrington) launches for 10 summer days, starting Thursday, July 17 to Saturday, July 26 2025. For more updates on headliners and other information, visit delawarestatefair.com.
If you have an interesting story idea, email lifestyle reporter Andre Lamar at alamar@gannett.com. Consider signing up for his weekly newsletter, DO Delaware, at delawareonline.com/newsletters.
Chip Guy, the Sussex County spokesman, said Stark was mistaken in believing the county was awarding her a building permit.
“To be clear, the county DID NOT issue a building permit,’’ Guy said in an emailed response to questions about The Farm’s bid to put astore in Sussex.
Guy said an official “notified the applicant that the building plan review [tenant fit-out] had cleared initial steps. That is but one step that is part of the process in determining whether to issue a building permit in the first place.”
Guy said the county’s “due diligence’’ found that The Farm’s location simply did not qualify for approval.
Stark remains flabbergasted by the decision, saying she had relied on the state’s approval of the location as well as the state’s identified patient need for that area of Sussex.
“In my mind, when they approved that location and we started spending money and had rent to pay, and drawings put together, and had to start seeking other approvals and permits, it was an established use,” Stark said.
Robert Coupe, the state’s marijuana commissioner, said the state’s hands are tied as long as the current state law remains in effect.
“There’s nothing for me to do. They have to fight that fight,’’ Coupe said of Stark.
Coupe, whose office will soon issue 30 licenses for retail recreational marijuana stores statewide, added that Sussex’s “three-mile buffer, as it currently exists, definitely presents challenges for our selected applicants” in Sussex, where 10 retail licenses will be granted.
“If it appears that it will be difficult for them to find areas to operate, probably a focus for them will be on specific towns that have said they will allow operations,” he said.
Guy, who has not agreed to do any interviews on the Sussex law, wrote last month that he disagrees with the assertion that no parcels exist in unincorporated Sussex for retail stores. Yet he would not identify any permitted sites, or consent to a request by WHYY News to analyze the zoning map to find any.
Stark said she has spoken to a lawyer about her options, and if her efforts fail, is also considering whether to find a site elsewhere in Sussex, perhaps within the town limits of Frankford, which hasn’t banned cannabis stores.
“It’s ridiculous,’’ Stark said of her company’s predicament in Sussex. “And more people just need to know it’s ridiculous.”
From Philly and the Pa. suburbs to South Jersey and Delaware, what would you like WHYY News to cover? Let us know!
Rep. Nancy Mace, R-South Carolina, has introduced legislation that would bar transgender women from using women’s restrooms and other facilities on federal property.
It comes just a few days after she filed a resolution intended to institute a bathroom ban in parts of the U.S. Capitol complex that she said was targeted at Delaware Congresswoman-elect Sarah McBride, a Democrat, who First State voters elected to serve as the first openly transgender person in Congress just two weeks ago.
Mace said to reporters Monday that McBride, who she misgendered during her comments, didn’t “belong in women’s spaces, bathrooms and locker rooms.”
While not specifically mentioning Mace’s bills, House Speaker Mike Johnson issued a statement Wednesday dictating that House policy in January would ban transgender women from using facilities — like bathrooms and locker rooms — that do not correspond with the sex they were assigned at birth.
“All single-sex facilities in the Capitol and House Office Buildings — such as restrooms, changing rooms, and locker rooms — are reserved for individuals of that biological sex,” Johnson said in a statement. It was not clear how the policy would be enforced.
“Each Member office has its own private restroom, and unisex restrooms are available throughout the Capitol,” he added.
Mace’s resolution, which she said she wanted to be included in the rules package for the next Congress, requires the House sergeant at arms to enforce the ban.
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