On his final day in office, Chip Flowers sought to have the last word on his controversial single term as Delaware‘s state treasurer.
In a nearly 18 minute speech, the departing treasurer touted making the state over $55 million dollars through its investment portfolio and other accomplishments. The first African-American elected to statewide office then took aim at the way race was used against him during a contentious four years in office.
“I watched first hand a political leadership climate, along with certain print media, that used race as a weapon at times, fostered racial stereotypes and combined the two with falsehoods to try and deceive the public,” said Flowers.
Flowers clashed with the board that oversees management of the state portfolio. He was also mired in several scandals during his term, including a former deputy, Erika Benner, misusing her state credit card and questions about his own travel spending – though a state auditor’s report found no serious issues with Flowers' conduct.
That same deputy accused Flowers of harassment over the summer. Dover Police cleared him, but not before Flowers abandoned his re-election campaign in August.
“Our political leaders didn’t speak up against the falsehoods or mistreatment, even after they had evidence of the truth that I had done my job honorably," said Flowers. "Rather some even encouraged it and had the attitude ‘this is what he deserves because he challenged us.”
Flowers says he will launch a website archiving his work as treasurer and his campaigns as a road map for others seeking office. He adds he plans to re-enter politics in his new home – Massachusetts – in the future.
Republican Ken Simpler, who beat Democrat Sean Barney in November's General Election, will be sworn in as the new state treasurer Tuesday morning.
