DOVER- Accusations that he runs Delaware’s state Senate like a “dictator” did not derail Anthony DeLuca’s (D-Varlano) effort to remain Senate President pro tem. Sen. DeLuca (D-Varlano) received the minimum number of votes necessary to secure the leadership position in a contentious intraparty struggle among Senate Democrats that left his opponents in the cold.
The vote took place special session of the senate, called by Governor Jack Markell to confirm Vice Chancellor Leo E. Strine Jr. to another term on Chancery Court.
Before the state Senate could move to confirm Strine, it needed to swear in those who won election or reelection last month and set up senate rules. That included Senate Resolution 3, a vote to keep Sen, DeLuca as president pro tem. DeLuca got exactly the minimum majority 11 votes he needed in the 21 member body to stay in the leadership post. 10 votes came from Democrats and one from Republican Colin Bonini (R- Dover).
“What the vote count is is really irrelevant,” said DeLuca. “Do you want more [votes]? Sure, you always want more. It’s a challenge. There’s nothing wrong with the process. There’s nothing wrong with anyone running. There’s nothing wrong with anyone expressing their opinion."
And some strong opinions were expressed.
Fellow Democratic Sen. Karen Peterson (D-Stanton) and Sen. Michael Katz (D-Centerville) mounted the challenge, mainly citing the need for more transparency in the way the Senate operates. Katz was running for president pro temp against DeLuca.
On the Senate floor Peterson bluntly said the Senate has been run as a “dictatorship for too many years.” When there is an "abuse of power", she added, legislators have a “right and duty to pull the plug."
Katz said new leadership is needed to ensure everyone is heard and bills are assigned quickly and receive a proper hearing.
Newly elected Senator David Lawson (R-Dover) was the only Republican to speak on the floor. He said he did not know either DeLuca or Katz, but based on what he has seen and heard, he is unhappy with the current leadership and would not support it.
DeLuca rocked in his chair and listened with his hands folded as the other senators spoke.
Senate President Pro Tem Anthony DeLuca defends his leadership style (click here to listen).
When it came time for a vote, Peterson, Katz and Lawson were three of five “no” votes, joined by Sens. Gary Simpson (R-Milford) and Liane Sorenson (R-Hockessin), the Senate minority leader and minority whip.
Four senators were present but indicated they were “not voting” - Senators Joseph Booth (R-Georgetown), George Bunting(D-Bethany Beach), Dori Connor (R-Penn Acres) and David Sokola (D-Newark). One senator absent - Catherine Cloutier (R-Heatherbrooke) - who was out of town and delayed by weather.
[caption id="attachment_6293" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="State Senator Karen Peterson (D-Stanton)"]
Peterson thought she had the votes to dislodge DeLuca, but says Cloutier’s absence and a surprising “yes” vote from Republican Senator Colin Bonini (R-Dover) made the difference for the incumbent leader.
“Bonini sold out basically.” said Peterson. DeLuca says he did not promise Sen. Bonini anything for his vote.
The squabbling did not end with Tuesday’s vote. Afterwards, Peterson continued to air her concerns about what she called DeLuca “abuse of power,” including the $46,000 renovation to his Legislative Hall office, and allowing his executive assistant to split time between the legislature and the Department of Labor where DeLuca also works.
DeLuca responded that the office renovation request properly went through the Office of Management and Budget for approval and that he has received an opinion from the Office of the Attorney General that there is nothing improper about the use of his executive assistant.
“[Peterson is] free to say what she wants,” said DeLuca. “She was corrected when she brought those allegations up in caucus. She subsequently made those same statements in emails and I guess to [the press] today. I would say that’s being done with malice."
Sen. Margaret Rose Henry (D-Wilmington East), the majority whip, likened Peterson’s allegations to a “witch hunt."
Peterson and Katz say they are not concerned about retaliation for their leadership challenge.
“I never worry about the consequences. Otherwise we wouldn’t have open government today,” said Peterson.
[caption id="attachment_6291" align="alignright" width="300" caption="State Senator Michael Katz (D-Centerville)"]
Katz did consider how it might affect his ability to best represent his constituents, but ultimately decided to go forward because one reason he ran for the Senate in 2008 was to promote open government. “I actually feel good,” said Katz. “I know it was the right thing.”
The challengers say the vote indicates that the cause of open government still has a long way to go.
“We did not take a bold step forward,” Katx said. "It was a significant opportunity to make a statement not only in the Senate chambers but to all Delawareans that we’re not going to be business as usual.”
Katz added he intends to stay at it and run for re-election to his seat in 2012.
“The will of the majority was same old, same old,” said Peterson.
DeLuca takes a more practical view. “If someone doesn’t get their way when they’re trying to get something done, does that mean the people that did get their way with are dictators? It just means you lost," said DeLuca.
