Delaware
Why Delaware elections commissioners rarely enforce campaign finance laws
Details about two of the construction projects at Dover Air Force Base
Col. Chris McDonald outlines plans for a new hangar and a new dormitory.
Delaware elections officials have the authority to investigate campaign finance violations, but that oversight has never been used.
The state Department of Elections said that it has “no records” of probes conducted using the most basic power given to Delaware election commissioners: investigating “information coming to the attention of the commissioner that, if true, would constitute” a violation of campaign finance laws.
Even though Lt. Gov. Bethany Hall-Long publicly acknowledged campaign finance issues, the Elections Department has steered clear of using its investigatory powers to ensure that the gubernatorial candidate’s campaign hasn’t violated Delaware law.
Instead, Delaware voters and taxpayers are left to take Hall-Long’s campaign at their word when it announced the internal audit found “no wrongdoings or violations.”
The campaign has repeatedly declined to release the audit, instead claiming the amended campaign filings “fully convey” the results of the probe. Yet, those filings do not provide clarity on what the hundreds of thousands of dollars in loans paid for, causing some to question whether payments went directly to Hall-Long’s husband and campaign treasurer, Dana Long, according to reporting by WHYY.
CAMPAIGN ANNOUNCEMENT: Filings show Lt. Gov. Hall-Long improperly reported over $300K in campaign-related expenses
How Hall-Long’s refusal to release audit findings sparked elections reform talks
Department officials said they have neither received a copy of the audit nor are they conducting a third-party review of Hall-Long’s campaign finances, and refused to answer questions on what Delawareans must do to prompt the election commissioner to use their investigatory powers.
“The department does not comment on any potential or pending campaign finance-related reviews or investigations that may be conducted,” said department spokesperson Cathleen Hartsky-Carter in an email following repeated Delaware Online/The News Journal questions regarding this authority.
What authority do election officials have?
The duties and responsibilities of the Department of Elections and respective election commissioner are spelled out in the State Code, but elections officials have provided contradictory statements on those powers.
Per Title 15, Section 302 of Delaware Code, election commissioners have the authority to “investigate information coming to the attention of the commissioner that, if true, would constitute a violation of Chapter 80 of this title,” which is to say election officials can investigate campaigns for compliance with state laws regarding campaign expenditures and contributions.
Yet, elections officials say they have no records of probes conducted under this authority, and when a News Journal reporter asked about these powers, Hartsky-Carter initially said State Code “does not authorize the department to review or audit campaign finance reports.”
Pressed further, the department spokesperson responded that she was “not referring to the authority the department has under Title 15, Section 302, but stating that the department is not required by Delaware Code to review the content of submitted campaign finance reports.”
How one can investigate potential violations of campaign finance law without reviewing the reports is unclear, but even the department website notes the commissioner’s duties to investigate violations of the state’s campaign finance laws.
2024 DELAWARE RACES: Our updated list of Delaware candidates, announcements
The commissioner is appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Delaware Senate for a four-year term, and is an “ex officio member of the State Board of Elections” who attends all board meetings; provides supervision of the department; and develops regulations, policies and guidelines as outlined in Delaware Code.
The commissioner’s powers are further enumerated in Title 15 Ch. 80 Subchapter V on enforcement, which says the commissioner “shall at the request of any person, make a ruling that applies this chapter to a set of facts specified by the person.”
The last time those powers were used was in 2018 when the election commissioner at the time issued two advisory opinions, both of which found no violations of state campaign finance laws.
Using campaign finance enforcement authority
The election commissioner has issued seven advisory opinions in the last 15 years, which are prompted by questions voters, political committees and candidates may ask in regard to campaign finances and the election process.
The commissioner weighs in on a variety of questions and concerns, from a 2010 opinion on whether a candidate can use campaign funds to pay legal fees to a 2018 opinion on whether two elected officials violated state campaign finance laws.
In the latter opinion, then-election Commissioner Elaine Manlove absolved state Treasurer Ken Simpler and Senate Minority Leader Greg Lavelle of wrongdoing, but noted Lavelle serving as treasurer of a political action committee that spends money backing his campaign toed the line.
“While I believe his use of the mailings at issue steps right up to the legal line and the distinction in the statute, I reluctantly conclude his use of electioneering communications to support his own campaign does not step over the line is technically permitted,” Manlove wrote in the Oct. 26, 2018 opinion. “In my view, however, though legal, the practice is not consistent with the spirit of the law intended to promote transparency, fairness and clarity for voters and the election process.”
THE 2018 COMPLAINT: Election campaign finance complaint against Republican candidates Lavelle, Simpler rejected
State Justice Department officials say there have been only two instances when potential campaign finance issues were referred to the department’s Office of Civil Rights and Public Trust for criminal prosecution. But after state attorneys reviewed the cases, they determined there wasn’t enough evidence to move forward.
One of the few powers that Delaware election commissioners have exercised is issuing penalties for campaigns and candidates when they file late reports, but even those instances have lacked teeth.
A law recently passed by the General Assembly caps the $50 a day citation at 100 days and revised the commissioner’s duties so that the election official can pick and choose when to levy a fine for tardy reports. It also allows the election commissioner to negotiate a settlement of the outstanding fine, which applies retroactively, opening the door for people with huge outstanding fines to potentially waive them entirely.
How voters can prompt action
The public can contact the Elections Department with questions or concerns about filed campaign finance reports, Hartsky-Carter said.
“The department’s campaign finance team reviews the concern raised and provides a response and, if necessary, contacts the committee about which the inquiry was made (without revealing the identity of the individual inquiring) to share the concern or question raised,” she said.
If the “inquiry reveals that an amendment may be needed to a filed report,” Hartsky-Carter said the department works with the committee to ensure those amended reports are filed.
To contact the Elections Department with questions or concerns, email COE_Vote@delaware.gov or call 302-739-4277.
Got a tip? Contact Amanda Fries at afries@delawareonline.com, or by calling or texting 302-598-5507. Follow her on X at @mandy_fries.
Delaware
Delaware college student, kindergartener advocate for legislation to help support AAPI education
Two bills being heard in Delaware are aimed to be solutions in the fight against anti-Asian rhetoric, violence, and hate. The legislation was inspired by a dad and a college student, who are getting additional support from a very special kindergartener.
“I believe everyone in Delaware should learn about the vast cultures and traditions of Asian and Pacific Islander communities,” said Austin Lou.
Austin is a kindergartener with a grown-up voice advocating for legislation to support AAPIs.
“I’m here today to speak in favor of House bill 322,” he said. “I’m proud of my heritage, but sometimes I can feel invisible.”
Yunfei Lou is Austin’s dad. He grew up in Lewes, Delaware.
“I still kind of struggle with an identity crisis of who I am as a one and a half generation Asian American mom, a lot of the time, I still slip and say them Americans, even though I am an American through and through. I pay taxes, I vote,” said Yunfei.
Yunfei wants to instill a sense of belonging among Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders and increase education.
“We basically we want to kind of remove that veil, the mystique around being Asian and really give the community an opportunity to really learn about who we are,” he said.
Yunfei has partnered with Devin Jiang, who’s a junior at the University of Delaware studying public policy.
“COVID-19 was when I saw this community crumble for the first time and I realized that Asian Americans can’t be silent anymore,” said Devin.
Together Devin, Yunfei and little Austin are lobbying for AAPI inclusion in education and to establish a state AAPI commission in the form of two bills.
“The first step is to gain more political representation, making sure that we have a voice at the table,” said Devin.
“Once we have that commission established, we can then start having some brainstorming sessions on trying to get community feedback,” said Yunfei .
SB 297, the AAPI education bill, has already evolved to include programming for all racial, cultural, and ethnic groups.
“We want to be as inclusive as possible,” said Yunfei .
“This would mean more educational programs in schools and a stronger sense of belonging for Asian American students like me,” said Austin.
The education bill will be heard in committee on May 15. HB 322, which would establish the AAPI state commission, has passed the Delaware House and will also be heard in the Senate.
Copyright © 2024 WPVI-TV. All Rights Reserved.
Delaware
Incumbent upset, narrow races: How Tuesday’s school board elections shook out
Behind the scenes of Wilmington’s pop-up robot street art installation
A behind-the-scenes look at the robot pop-up street art installation by Wilmington artist David Sanchez
Over 5,600 Delawareans turned out to vote in Tuesday’s school board elections across the state, according to the unofficial results from the Delaware Department of Elections. Contested races were held in seven districts: Appoquinimink, Colonial, Red Clay Consolidated, Indian River, Delmar and Woodbridge.
While other districts throughout the state did have seats up for grabs, Delaware Code states that elections will not be held if there is only one person running.
Here are the preliminary results posted by the Delaware Department of Elections, in alphabetical order by county:
NEW CASTLE COUNTY
Appoquinimink
Incumbent Norm Abrams has been reelected to his at-large seat on the Appoquinimink School Board, which he has held for 15 years. He received 54% of the 880 total votes cast, beating opponents Britney Mumford and Candace Justino.
Mumford, executive director of the public education equity-focused nonprofit DelawareCAN, was the runner-up with 32% of votes. Justino, who works with the nonprofit “Public Allies of Delaware” program at the University of Delaware, received the fewest votes.
Colonial
Incumbent Robin Crossan was narrowly reelected to represent District G on the Colonial School Board, a position he’s held for six years. He received 52% of the 362 total votes cast, beating opponent Tanya Kerns, a retired financial analyst with Amtrak, by just 12 votes.
Red Clay Consolidated
Susan Sander has been elected to represent District E on the Red Clay Consolidated School Board, beating incumbent Jason Casper, who has held the position for almost seven years. Sander, a community volunteer and former executive assistant for assisted living communities, earned 72% of the 2,043 total votes cast.
KENT COUNTY
Lake Forest
Incumbent Sarah R. Starkey has been reelected to her at-large seat on the Lake Forest School Board, which she has held for almost five years. She received 77% of the 290 total votes cast, beating opponent David Mazur, a former behavior modification specialist in New Jersey.
SUSSEX COUNTY
Delmar
Russell Smart has been elected to fill the at-large seat on the Delmar School Board. Smart, whose son is a student in the district, received 68% of the 563 total votes cast, beating opponent Dawn Turner, who was previously appointed to fill a vacant seat on the school board in 2021 and served through June 2023.
Woodbridge
John Campbell has been elected to fill the at-large seat on the Woodbridge School Board. Campbell, who has two children in the district and coaches youth sports, received 59% of the 684 total votes cast, beating opponents Brian Swain and Kristie Thomas.
Swain, a former teacher and principal, was the runner up with 34% of the votes. Thomas, who served on the boards of a government tax ditch program and the Woodbridge Little League, received the fewest votes.
Indian River
Anita West-Werner has been elected to represent District 4 on the Indian River School Board. West-Werner, a U.S. Air Force colonel and parent of two children in the district, received 59% of the total 835 votes cast, beating opponent Joshua Hudson, a captain with DNREC’s Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police.
BACKGROUND: Delaware’s school board election guide: Who’s running in your district?
Send story tips or ideas to Hannah Edelman at hedelman@delawareonline.com. For more reporting, follow them on Twitter at @h_edelman.
Delaware
2024 Delaware school board election results
The preliminary results for the 2024 Delaware school board elections are in, and there will be five new faces sworn into their seats this summer.
Across state’s 19 school districts, 16 candidates campaigned for seven open seats in seven districts.
Here are this year’s winners:
New Castle County
Appoquinimink School District — Incumbent Norman A. Abrams Jr.
Colonial School District — Robin Crossan
Red Clay Consolidated School District — Susan Sander
Kent County
Lake Forest School District — Incumbent Sarah R. Starkey
Sussex County
Delmar School District — Russell R. Smart
Indian River School District — Anita West-Werner
Woodbridge School District — John Campbell
Raised in Doylestown, Pennsylvania, Jarek earned a B.A. in journalism and a B.A. in political science from Temple University in 2021. After running CNN’s Michael Smerconish’s YouTube channel, Jarek became a reporter for the Bucks County Herald before joining Delaware LIVE News.
Post Views: 1
-
Politics1 week ago
House Dems seeking re-election seemingly reverse course, call on Biden to 'bring order to the southern border'
-
World1 week ago
Stand-in Jose Raul Mulino wins Panama presidential race
-
News1 week ago
Compass Direct LLC’s 2024 Registration in North Carolina
-
World1 week ago
Tech compliance reports, Newsletter
-
News1 week ago
Columbia University cancels its main commencement ceremony after weeks of turmoil
-
News1 week ago
Man, 75, confesses to killing wife in hospital because he couldn’t afford her care, court documents say
-
News1 week ago
UCLA to resume in-person classes after Gaza protest crackdown
-
World1 week ago
Pentagon chief confirms US pause on weapons shipment to Israel