Normally, the swearing in of Delaware’s state treasurer does not draw significant attention. But when Chip Flowers took the oath of office Tuesday at the Delaware Art Museum, it was standing room only with the state’s entire congressional delegation on hand, along with Governor Jack Markell, Lt. Governor Matt Denn and other major state political figures.
“It never happened for any of my state treasurer swearing ins," said Governor Markell (D), who served two and a half terms as state treasurer before being elected governor in 2008.
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The difference is that Flowers election in November broke another barrier in Delaware politics. Flowers is the first African-American elected to statewide office in Delaware - something he acknowledged that would not have been possible without those who went before him.
“It is only appropriate to thank all of those trailblazers,” said Flowers in his speech after taking the oath of office. “[Their] sacrifices and accomplishments made this historic moment possible. I am a child of their labors and I will continue to work hard to open the door of equality and opportunity for those who surpass our footsteps."
One of those trailblazers Flowers referred to was former Smyrna Mayor George Wright, who became Delaware's first African American mayor when he was elected in 1981.
“History has been made today. I’m sure Chip is going to do a wonderful job,” said Wright. “When you go into office and you’re the 'first', you always feel like you’re the first but you’re not going to be the last. So as we see this happen to Chip, we hope it is just the beginning."
State Treasurer Chip Flowers Swearing-in Ceremony
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While Flowers’ swearing in celebrated the historic accomplishment, Flowers said he realizes that tomorrow he must begin work on his campaign promise to re-design the treasurer’s office as more of an economic advisory office.
Chip Flowers' speech following his swearing in as state treasurer (click here to listen)
“For example, should we be putting [that state's] money in a bank account earning less than 1 percent interest or should that money be out there working for us by investing in our small businesses?” asked Flowers. "Those are the things I’m going to be working on immediately. What steps can we immediately take to get people back to work, to stimulate economic growth and ultimately to make Delaware better positioned to be a global economic leader in the 21st century?”
During the transition period prior to taking office, Flowers took steps to deliver on one of his specific campaign promises: the creation of an economic warning system for Delaware. Flowers and his transition team met with representatives from the Federal Reserve Bank in New York, the New York Stock Exchange and investment banks about such a warning system.
Flowers was pleased with the response from the Federal Reserve. “They were excited. They had never really been contacted before by a state treasurer’s office. They said, ‘Listen, if you give us the information, we’ll do the analysis for you'."
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Flowers also made good on another campaign promise, though not in the way he had originally hoped. Flowers had vowed to draw a salary of only $1 one dollar during his first year in office. When he learned that was not logistically possible, Flowers decided instead to donate his first year’s salary to the United Way to create a public fellowship that will allow two young people to serve as fellows in the state treasurer’s office.
“It’s more important to put young people in government right now, to provide the treasurer’s office the resources it needs and show the General Assembly that there are creative ways to manage our state government other than just paying people. Sometimes it's about giving back and I wanted to give back,” said Flowers.
The General Assembly is watching. While House Minority leader Peter Schwartzkopf (D-Rehoboth Beach) said the legislature is ready to work with Flowers. However, Rep. Schwartzkopf also jokingly described Flower's ideas as “real bold, some that are even bolder and some that are really way over here that we need to talk about.” Schwartzkopf noted the House is ready to look at those ideas as long as they don’t cost too much money.
State Treasurer Chip Flowers' Swearing-in Address:
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