Democratic Party insider David Bentz is his party’s choice to run in a special election to fill the seat vacated by his boss, Rep. Mike Barbieri (D-Newark).
The 18th District Democratic Committee voted last night for Bentz, who has chaired the committee for the past year and served on the body for the past three years.
Barbieri announced earlier this month he's leaving from House of Representatives for a position in the Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS).
Bentz, 29, currently works as a legislative aide to Barbieri and Rep. Earl Jaques (D-Glasgow) handling constituent relations and drafting policy.
He’s taking a leave of absence from that job beginning today to focus on the short campaign.
“My priorities really lie in making sure that the government really goes to work for the middle class, strengthening the middle class and not necessarily working not just for the wealthy and well-connected, but working class families and their children,” Bentz said.
He earned his undergraduate from Penn State University and his Master’s in Public Administration from the University of Delaware in 2011.
Republicans have not chosen their candidate, but John Fluharty, executive director of the state party, says he expects to announce one next week.
“I’m sure David Bentz is a nice guy, but he was handpicked by the party bosses in Dover and shoved down people’s throats last night and it’s not fair to the district,” Fluharty said.
But Bentz says he disagrees with that sentiment.
“I believe strongly after presenting my case to the district committee last night and the voters from the 18th District that came that I was the strongest candidate,” said Bentz. “It’s not an issue of being a handpicked candidate.”
As of June, there are three times as many registered Democrats in the district versus Republicans. That lead falls to about 2,200 people if unaffiliated voters all vote with the GOP.
Barbieri, current CEO of the adolescent substance abuse organization Crossroads Delaware, suddenly announced his resignation July 13 after being named the director for the state Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health, earning $144,000 per year.
The soon-to-be former lawmaker says he will resign his position there to avoid a conflict of interest, as his practice receives state contract dollars to run community-based services.
Barbieri’s resignation is official Aug. 3, with a special election required to take place no later than 45 days after.
House Speaker Pete Schwartzkopf (D-Rehoboth Beach) has not set that date yet, but Democratic Party officials expect it to be in the first half of September.
