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Two Democrats file to replace outgoing Sen. Karen Peterson

Delaware Public Media

The fight for longtime state Sen. Karen Peterson's northern New Castle County seat is beginning to heat up shortly after the legislative session came to a close.

Two Democrats, Caitlin Olsen and Jack Walsh, filed for the Stanton-area seat Friday.

Walsh, a 54-year-old union electrician and lifelong district resident, says he’s committed to rebuilding and growing the middle class in Delaware.

He says an effective government acts as a conduit to build the economy rather than propping it up by itself.

“Government doesn’t get into creating jobs. Government, they give businesses avenues to create good paying jobs,” Walsh said.

The district also represents part of the Red Clay School District, which would absorb students from Wilmington should a redistricting plan ever pass the General Assembly.

Walsh says he’s still learning about the issue.

But education has a place on his platform.

He says school administrators are too focused on student test scores and are hamstringing teachers with too many rules.

“Teachers need to teach. The environment that they teach in is really not conducive for them to be successful in teaching.”

Olsen, who works as a lobbyist for the University of Delaware, didn’t immediately return a request for comment. She's also married to Damian DeStefano, Gov. Jack Markell's (D) policy advisor on economic development.

Candidates have until noon on Tuesday, July 12 to file for state offices.

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