The last person elected Delaware state treasurer currently sits in the Governor's chair. In the 2010 election cycle, three candidates are vying for the position: appointed incumbent, Democrat Velda Jones-Potter, her Democratic primary challenger, attorney Chip Flowers, and Republican State Senator Colin Bonini.
The race received added scrutiny this week when details of Treasurer Jones-Potter’s consulting contract with the City of Wilmington became public. That contract has paid her over $100,000 since 2007 for running a leadership development program aimed at women.
Jones-Potter says the work for Wilmington does not create any conflict with her duties as state treasurer. "One of the first things I did when I became treasurer was to reach out to the Public Integrity Commission to find out whether or not continuing in a consulting capacity was okay or not, and if so how to disclose that,” said Jones-Potter. "They gave me all assurance there was no conflict in doing that. And I followed their directions in terms of disclosure.”
Jones-Potter adds she worked on the program nights, weekends and on vacation time, outside her hours in the state treasurer’s office. She also points out she did not seek to work with the city, the city approached her.
Jones-Potter’s opponents are raising questions about her city contract. Flowers said he wants an investigation, “not to assign blame, but to figure out a way we can move forward so people don’t have an image of the treasurers holding two checks, one from the state, one from the city when that is the person charged with being fiscally responsible and the watchdog of their money.”
Bonini says Jones-Potter displayed a lack of transparency in disclosing the contract. "The governor who appointed her didn't even know. She's taking two paychecks and the governor who appointed her treasurer didn't even know that,” said Bonini.
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The governor’s office says Governor Markell was aware Jones-Potter had a consulting business when he appointed her , but did not know the City of Wilmington is one of her clients.
Jones-Potter dismisses those criticisms and indicates she has no intention of abandoning her work with the the City of Wilmington. "I myself have never made a secret of the work that I do and the pride that I have in helping the city,” said Jones-Potter. "I’ve talked openly and shared publicly what great work they are doing because I am very proud of it and happy to be a part of it.
The debate over Jones-Potter’s city consulting deal is hardly the only issue in the treasurer’s race. The three candidates offer radically different visions for the office.
DFM News sat down with each candidate to discuss the race and where they stand on the issues.