Election Day is less than a week away and in the final days before voters head to their polling places WDDE is taking a longer look at some key state legislative races in the First State.
Today, Susan Geary examines the 11th House District race:
Delaware’s House District 11 is a brand new district which was re-drawn due to a shift outlined in the 2010 census. It combines parts of the old 8th and 29th districts and includes parts of Kent and New Castle Counties. Democrat Lynne Newlin and Republican Jeffrey Spiegelman are on the November ballot to represent District 11.
Newlin says she's running because she has a passion for community service.
"I currently serve on the Smyrna School Board, and this is my 10th year on the board. I've always been involved in community projects and community service and I just want to extend my reach now that my son James has graduated from high school," said Newlin when she sat down with WDDE. "I have some more time to devote and I want to extend my reach and serve the constituents of the 11th district"
More from WDDE's interviews with 11th District House candidates Lynne Newlin and Jeff Speigelman.
More from WDDE's interviews with 11th District House candidates Lynne Newlin and Jeff Speigelman.
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Speigelman's reason for seeking the seat is because he believes the people in the district need a voice the more closely reflects their views.
"It’s a lot of rural area. It's a lot of good hard working people and I want to represent these people in Leg Hall: students, family, friends," said Speigelman in his separate interview with WDDE. "They all noticed a certain amount of disconnection between the voters and the voted, and they wanted somebody to come in who represents the will of the people. In order to get things done at Leg Hall, [you need to] before party before anything else and so I'm running because I want to represent the will of the people in the 11th district.
Both candidates believe their experience in education would serve them well as a state representative.
"I'm currently the president [of the Smyrna School Board], so that to me in some way does provide a segue of understanding a little bit about what goes on at least from an education perspective," said Newlin.
"I’ve been a college Poly Sci instructor, and I've noticed that it doesn't look they're getting done quite like [in the past]," said Speigelman. "So I wanted to bring back a time in America where we could look at each other across the aisle and we could look at each other as people and say "let's do what's best." I'm not a career politician. This is my first time running for office and I really want to represent those people who are dissatisfied with government at Legislative Hall."
And when it comes to the issues that they feel are most important to the citizens of the 11th District, the two candidates also find some common ground.
"Probably the top issues for the citizens of the 11th district are job creation, and the economy as well as the educational issues," said Newlin.
"Well, there’s certainly three that comes to mind: Jobs, Jobs, and Jobs," said Speigelman.
But there was a significant divergence in views on some issues, including House Bill 392 - The Delaware Health Security Act, which was introduced late during the last session and withdrawn - and could be revived when the legislature reconvenes in January.
"I would really have to take a close look at that bill when it's reintroduced," said Newlin. "I believe that our country as a whole has overlooked [health care] for far too long and we're actually in a crisis situation now in regards to health care issues."
"In HB 392, it says that a politician who is a political appointee, not elected, but a political appointee is allowed to own stock in the companies that they are forcing people to buy. We cannot allow political appointees to be making money off of the taxpayer. That's not the way the system is designed. that is just one of the many examples of why HB392 is a square peg in a round hole. it just doesn't fit," said Speigelman.
