2020 smart justice general assembly voter guide...eds, and distributing educational materials. we...

2020 Smart Justice General Assembly

Voter Guide

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Table of Contents

Smart Justice Introduction and Background …….…………………………………………………………………………………………….4-6

Senate

District 1 Wilmington - Sarah McBride ……………….………………………………………………………………………………..………..8

District 1 Wilmington - Steven Washington …………………………………………………………….……….…….……………….…….9

District 5 Heatherbrooke, Arden, Talleyville - Catherine Cloutier ……..………………….……………....………………..…..10

District 5 Heatherbrooke, Arden, Talleyville - Kyle Evans Gay …......................................................................11

District 7 Elsemere - Anthony Delcollo ……...………………………………..…………………..……………………….…………..…….12

District 7 Elsemere - Spiros Mantzavinos ………………..……………….…………………………………………….……….…...…13-14

District 8 Newark - David Sokola ………………………………….…..………………………………………………….………………….…..15

District 9 Stanton - Jack Walsh ………………..……………………………….………………………………………….………………….…..16

District 9 Stanton - Todd Ruckle ………………..…………………………..…………………………………………….………………….…..17

District 12 New Castle - Nicole Poore …………………………..…..………………………………………………….………………….…..18

District 13 Hawks Nest, Wilmington Manor - Marie Pinkney ……………….……………………………….………………….…..19

District 13 Hawks Nest, Wilmington Manor - Alex Homich ..……………………….…………………………..……………….…..20

District 14 Smyrna - Bruce Ennis …………………………………………………………………………..….…………………………..……..21

District 14 Smyrna - Craig Pugh ………………..………………………………………………………………………………………..………..22

District 15 Marydel - David Lawson …………………………..……..………………………………………………….………………….…..23

District 15 Marydel - Jaci Hugg ………………………………….……..………………………………………………….………………….…..24

District 19 Georgetown - Brian Pettyjohn ………………..………………………………………………………….…….…………….…..25

District 20 Ocean View - Gerald Hocker ………………..……………………………………….…………………….………………….…..26

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House of Representatives

District 1 Wilmington - Nnamdi Chukwuocha .………………………………...………………………………………………..………...28

District 2 Wilmington - Stephanie Bolden …………………………………….…………………………………………………..….……...29

District 3 Wilmington - Sherry Dorsey Walker …………………………………………………………………………………..…….30-31

District 4 Wilmington - Gerald Brady …………………………………………………………………………………………….…..………...32

District 4 Wilmington - Jordan Nally …………………………………………………………….……………………………………………...33

District 5 Bear, Newark - Kendra Johnson ………………………………………………………………………………………..…………..34

District 6 Bellfonte, Claymont, Edgemoore - Debra Heffernan ………………………………………..………………..………....35

District 7 Arden, Claymont - Larry Lambert ………………………………………………………………………………………….….36-37

District 7 Arden, Claymont - James Haubrich ………………………………………………………..……………………..……………...38

District 7 Arden, Claymont - Scott Gesty ………………………………………….…………………..……………………..……….….…..39

District 8 Middletown - Sherae’a Moore ………………………………………………………………………………………………..…….40

District 8 Middletown - Daniel Zitofsky ………………………………………………………………………………………………..……….41

District 9 MOT, Port Penn - Kevin Hensley ……………………………..…………………………………………………………...……….42

District 9 MOT, Port Penn - Debbie Harrington .…………………………………………………………………………………………….43

District 10 Talleyville - Sean Matthews ……………………………………………………………………..……………..……………….….44

District 11 Smyrna - Jeff Spiegleman ……………………………………………………………..…………………………………….……….45

District 12 Hockessin, Greenville - Krista Griffith ………………………………………………………………..…………………..…….46

District 12 Hockessin, Greenville - Jeffery Cragg ………………………………………………………………………….……..….….….47

District 13 Newport - John Mitchell ………………………………………………………………..…………………………………..….…….48

District 14 Rehoboth - Pete Schwartzkoph ………………………………………………………………..………………….…..……...….49

District 15 Delaware City, New Castle - Valerie Longhurst .…………………………………………………….…….……..………..50

District 15 Delaware City, New Castle - Michael Higgin ………………………………………………………………………..……….51

District 15 Delaware City, New Castle - Amy Merlino …………………………………………………………………………..……….52

District 16 Wilmington - Frank Cooke Jr. .……………………………………………………………..…..…….…………………..……….53

District 17 New Castle - Melissa Minor-Brown ……………………………………………………..……………………………..……….54

District 18 Christiana, Bear - David Bentz ………………………………………………………..…………………………………..……….55

District 19 Newport - Kimberly Williams ………………………………………………………………..….………………………..……….56

District 20 Milton - Steve Smyk ………………………………………………………………..……………………………….……….….…….57

District 21 Pike Creek Valley - Mike Ramone …………………………………………………….…………..……….…………..…...….58

District 21 Pike Creek Valley - Stephanie Barry ………………………………………………………………..……………………...59-60

District 22 Hockessin - Mike Smith ………………………………………………………………..………….….………………………..…….61

District 22 Hockessin - Luann D’Agostino ………………………………………………………..………….………………………..…..….62

District 23 Newark - Paul Baumbach ………………….………………………………………..……………………………….……..……….63

District 24 Newark - Ed Osienski ………………………………………………………………..………………………………….……….…….64

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District 24 Newark - Gregory Wilps ………………………………………………………………..……………………………………..…..…..65

District 25 Newark South - John Kowalko ………………………………………………………………..………………………………..…..66

District 26 Newark - Madinah Wilson-Anton ……………………………………………………………………………….….………….….67

District 26 Newark - Timothy Conrad ………………………………….………………………………………………………….….……….….68

District 27 Glasgow - Eric Morrison …………………………………………………………………………………………………….............69

District 27 Glasgow - Donald Keister III …………………………………………………………….…………………………………….….….70

District 27 Glasgow - William Hinds ……………………………………………………………………………………………………….……...71

District 28 Smyrna - William Carson ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………….72

District 29 Cheswold, Dover - William Bush ……………………………………………………………………………….….…….…………73

District 29 Cheswold, Dover - Robin Hayes …………………………………………………………………………………………….………74

District 30 Harrington - Shannon Morris ……………………………………………………………………………………………….……….75

District 30 Harrington - Chuck Groce ………………………………………………………………………………………………………….….76

District 31 Dover - Sean Lynn ……………………………………………………………………………………………………….…….………...77

District 31 Dover - Richard Harpster …………………………………………………………………………………………………………..…78

District 32 Dover - Andria Bennett……………………………………………………………………………………………………….…….….79

District 32 Dover - Cheryl Precourt ……………………………………………………………………………………………………….…….…80

District 33 Milford - Charles Postles ……………………………………………………………………………………………………….….….81

District 33 Milford - Rachel King ……………………………………………………………………………………………………….……….….82

District 34 Dover, Camden - Lyndon Yearick ……………………………………………………………………………………………..…..83

District 34 Dover, Camden - Adewunmi Kuforji …………………………………………………………………………………..………..84

District 35 Bridgeville - Jesse Vanderwende ………………………………………………………………………………………………….85

District 35 Bridgeville - Darrynn Harris ……………………………………….……………………………………………………….………..86

District 36 Milford - Bryan Shupe ………………………………………………………………………………………………………..…….….87

District 36 Milford - Greg Fuller ……………………………………………………………………………………………………….….…….….88

District 37 Georgetown - Ruth Briggs King …………………………………………………………………………………………..…….….89

District 38 Selbyville - Ronald Gray ……………………………………………………………………………………………………….………90

District 39 Seaford - Daniel Short ……………………………………………………………………………………………………….….….….91

District 40 Laurel - Timothy Dukes ……………………………………………………………………………………………………….…….…92

District 41 Millsboro - Richard Collins ………………………………………………………………………………………………….…….….93

Please Note: Question 16 was optional and allowed candidates to share any additional comments or context for the questions asked.

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Why Smart Justice?

The United States locks up more of its people that any other nation. We have almost 5 percent of

the world’s population, but 23 percent of the world’s prisoners. Delaware imprisons at a rate

even higher than the extreme U.S. average—a rate that is 81 percent higher than New Jersey’s.

Most people’s journey into the criminal justice system begins with police interaction.

Ending the era of mass incarceration means dismantling the approaches that came to define

criminal justice in the 1980s, including practices by police officers/departments and the systems

that fail to oversee and hold them accountable.

Why focus on General Assembly candidates?

General Assembly members are democratically elected to decide the laws by which the citizens

are governed. They have a difficult and important job, and have a great deal of responsibility for

the current state of all State and local police departments.

Our Platform

Fairness, Transparency and Accountability

The next General Assembly members must recognize that trust is difficult for many community

members to have in law enforcement. Restoring and sustaining trust can only be attained by

allowing the public to know about the results of investigations into police misconduct and the

outcomes. Without transparency in the process, the public may remain suspicious that officers

are not held accountable for their actions. Transparency benefits law enforcement as well by

demonstrating when officers acted appropriately.

● Collect and make public police data

Too little information about police departments and officers is made public. This lack of

transparency prevents the community from knowing what decisions are being made or the

outcomes of those decisions. Fully transparent practices and outcomes improve decision-

making, allow the public to hold the General Assembly and police accountable, and enable

the public to push for change in the future. Our lawmakers must commit to tracking and

publishing details and statistics about police misconduct, arrests, stops and use of force,

including disparities that these activities may produce.

● Implement body-worn cameras

Body-worn cameras may result in better transparency and accountable, and ultimately

may improve law enforcement legitimacy. Video footage captured during officer-

community interactions can help support or dismiss accounts conveyed by police officers

and community residents and lead to faster resolution of complaints that allege excessive

use of force and other police misconduct. Our lawmakers must commit to implementing

body-worn cameras, require that the cameras are turned on during all police and

community interactions and that footage is subject to publication.

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● Establish independent community review boards

Many community members believe that police departments do a poor job of holding police

officers accountable when misconduct occurs. With police institutions having the power to

deprive people of their liberties and their life, there is a need to (1) hold police officers

accountable for unjustified use of deadly force against community members, and (2) hold

police officers accountable for the routine violations and grievances that go unresolved and

result in resentment from community members. Our lawmakers must commit to

establishing and financially supporting civilian review boards that have subpoena,

discipline and policy review authority.

End Invasive and Aggressive Police Tactics That Primarily Impact Communities of

Color

● Discontinue Operation Safe Streets and the Governor’s Task Force

The Operation Safe Streets and the Governor's Task Force (OSS/GTF) allows police

officers and probation officers to jointly police those on probation. According to the last

publicly available data on OSS/GTF, between 1999 and 2006, OSS/GTF arrested a total of

11,670 people—45% of them were not the person OSS/GTF was actually monitoring at the

time, demonstrating that OSS/GTF is not only monitoring those on probation, but their

communities and families as well. Our lawmakers must commit to discontinuing OSS/GTF

that leads to Black communities being overpoliced.

● Discontinue “No-Knock” or “Quick-Knock” warrants

The death of Breonna Taylor made it all too clear to civilians that police can kill them in

their own homes without recourse. Since her death, Louisville, Kentucky has banned “no-

knock” warrants. Our law makers must ensure that law enforcement is limited to enter a

private premise only by knocking and making their presence known.

● End Civil Asset Forfeiture

Delaware’s forfeiture laws allow for police to seize property unless an owner can prove

that the evidence is not forfeitable. Thus, the burden of proof is on the property owners to

demonstrate that their property being seized has nothing to do with illegal activity.

Moreover, law enforcement is incentivized to seize property because it creates revenue for

the Special Law Enforcement Assistance Fund, which they are not obligated to publicly

account for. Our lawmakers must end the practice of this low bar to seize property, assets

and money from civilians.

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Our Plans

Voter Registration

We will activate our members and volunteers to ensure people are registered to vote, focusing on

the communities most impacted by policing, as well as those who are unaware of changes to the

felony disenfranchisement law that restored the right to vote to people convicted of certain

felonies after completion of their sentence, including parole or probation. This is our number one

priority.

Voter Education

We will educate Delawareans about the problems with the police system and the power of elected

officials to help solve them. We will do so with focus groups, social media, radio interviews, op-

eds, and distributing educational materials. We will also ask candidates to take positions on the

issues most important to smart justice voters, and let the voters know where the candidates

stand on those issues.

Voter Mobilization

We will encourage smart justice voters to vote by mail or cast their ballot in-person on Primary

Election Day (September 15, 2020) and General Election Day (November 3, 2020). We want their

voices heard in this election and every election going forward.

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Senate

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Senate District 1 – Wilmington

(D) Sarah McBride Response

Q1 Will you support legislation that modifies the Law Enforcement Officers Bill of Rights to make police misconduct records publicly accessible?

I will sponsor such legislation.

Q2

Will you support legislation to increase law enforcement transparency by creating a statewide database with protocols for the collection and publishing of data related to all pedestrian and traffic law enforcement stops, including the race of the individual and the reason for the stop?


Q3 Will you support legislation that requires law enforcement officers to wear body cameras?


Q4 Will you support legislation creating a statewide community review board that has subpoena, discipline and policy review authority, and will make records and hearings public to the greatest extent possible?


Q5 Will you support legislation to end Operation Safe Streets, which utilizes aggressive policing tactics that leads to Black communities being over-policed?

I will vote ‘yes’ on such legislation.

Q6 Will you support legislation to prohibit “no knock warrants”? I will vote ‘yes’ on such

legislation.

Q7 Will you support legislation that would end civil asset forfeiture? I will sponsor such legislation.

Q8 Will you support allocating funds to mental health support for law enforcement officers?


Q9 Will you support legislation to strongly encourage implementation of pre-arrest diversion programs for people with substance abuse issues (a model similar to New Castle County’s Hero Help)?


Q10 Will you support legislation to reallocate funding for School Resource Officers to support additional resources for students such as mental health workers and program support?

Undecided

Q11 Will you support legislation to establish a statewide standard for use of force?


Q12 Will you support legislation to repeal mandatory minimum sentences and allow judges to exercise judicial discretion on a case-by-case basis?


Q13 Will you support legislation to encourage judges to consider ability to pay when assessing fines & fees and end the unproductive practice of driver license suspension for failure to pay?


Q14 Will you support legislation to expand reentry services outside the purview of the DOC for citizens returning to the community?


Q15 Will you support legislation that would require children to be treated as children, by keeping all minors in juvenile facilities and increasing the minimum age at which children can be prosecuted criminally?


Q16

Comments: Question 10 - We are at a moment where we are reimagining community safety. We have to look deeply at the policies in place right now, including the presence of law enforcement in our schools. I believe these questions and conversations need to occur across our state and that school boards are well situated to lead these discussions in individual communities.

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Senate District 1 – Wilmington

(R) Steven Washington Response



Q2






Undecided


Undecided

Q6 Will you support legislation to prohibit “no knock warrants”? Undecided

Q7 Will you support legislation that would end civil asset forfeiture? Undecided






Undecided




Undecided






Undecided

Q16 Comments: I would sponsor a bill to provide continued special education services to inmates who had prior services prior to conviction.

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Senate District 5 – Heatherbrooke, Arden, Talleyville

(R) Catherine Cloutier Response



Q2









Q6 Will you support legislation to prohibit “no knock warrants”? I will sponsor such legislation.

Q7 Will you support legislation that would end civil asset forfeiture? I will sponsor such legislation.

















Q16 Comments: I am extremely passionate and fully understand the need for Smart Justice.

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Senate District 5 – Heatherbrooke, Arden, Talleyville

(D) Kyle Evans Gay Response



Q2








Undecided


legislation.

Q7 Will you support legislation that would end civil asset forfeiture? I will vote ‘yes’ on such

legislation.






Undecided











Q16

Comments: 4. I support civilian review boards, but recognize that such oversight could be established at the state or local level. My priority would be to ensure that the board has the ability to adequately investigate matters before it. 5. I oppose overly aggressive policing policies that disproportionately affect people of color. I was unable to find comprehensive recent data regarding Operation Safe Streets, and I would like to know more information about the program. 10. As a State Senator, I would work with local school administrators, parents, and students to understand the impacts of School Resource Officers in my community.

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Senate District 7 – Elsmere

(R) Antony Delcollo Response


Q2





Q6 Will you support legislation to prohibit “no knock warrants”?

Q7 Will you support legislation that would end civil asset forfeiture?









Q16 Comments:

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Senate District 7 – Elsmere

(D) Spiros Mantzavinos Response


Undecided

Q2






Undecided




legislation.


legislation.






Undecided











Q16

Comments: Q1. Much would depend on the details of the bill. I am in favor of more transparency yet also want to ensure that there's due process that prevents premature disclosures of ongoing investigations. I am also interested in the LEOBOR Task Force's recommendations.

Q4. The specifics of this really matter. I am supportive of the concept and would first like to see how this has been developed and implemented in other jurisdictions.

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Q10. I support SROs and believe the criminal justice system should be an absolute last resort for problems in school and I will advocate strongly for policies that address the unequal treatment of children of color - especially as it comes to the criminalization of school children. I am also acutely aware of the need for mental health resources in our schools and support increasing resources for counselors and social workers. Funding for additional support staff does not mean eliminating funding for SROs .Funding for additional support staff does not mean eliminating funding for SROs.

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Senate District 8 – Newark

(D) David Sokola Response



Q2










legislation.


legislation.






Undecided










Undecided

Q16 Comments: The school resource officer matter needs to be a local school board matter. I do support significant increases in mental health support in our schools regardless of what the local Boards do on the issue of SROs.

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Senate District 9 – Stanton

(D) Jack Walsh Response


Q2















Q16 Comments:

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Senate District 9 – Stanton

(R) Todd Ruckle Response


Q2















Q16 Comments:

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Senate District 12 – New Castle

(D) Nicole Poore Response


Q2















Q16 Comments:

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Senate District 13 – Wilmington Manor, Hawk’s Nest

(D) Marie Pinkney Response



Q2










legislation.


legislation.

















Q16

Comments: Our campaign has a vision of overhauling the current legal system and replacing it with a framework of restorative justice. The legal system that Delawareans are living within today shuffles them through a broken pipeline that flows through every area of their lives. It has no focus on rehabilitation or restoration. Our campaign is dedicated to ending the criminalization of poverty through legislation that will intentionally dismantle our current punitive system.

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Senate District 13 – Wilmington Manor, Hawk’s Nest

(R) Alex Homich Response


Q2















Q16 Comments:

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Senate District 14 – Smyrna

(D) Bruce Ennis Response


Q2















Q16 Comments:

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Senate District 14 – Smyrna

(R) Craig Pugh Response


Q2















Q16 Comments:

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Senate District 15 – Marydel

(R) David Lawson Response


Q2















Q16 Comments:

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Senate District 15 – Marydel

(D) Jaci Hugg Response


Q2















Q16 Comments:

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Senate District 19 – Georgetown

(R) Brian Pettyjohn Response


Q2















Q16 Comments:

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Senate District 20 – Ocean View

(R) Gerald Hocker Response


Undecided

Q2


Undecided


Undecided





Q6 Will you support legislation to prohibit “no knock warrants”? Undecided


legislation.






Undecided




Undecided






Undecided

Q16 Comments: Candidate did not respond to this question.

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House of Representatives

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Representative District 1 – Wilmington

(D) Nnamdi Chukwuocha Response


Q2















Q16 Comments:

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(D) Stephanie Bolden Response


Q2















Q16 Comments:

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(D) Sherry Dorsey Walker Response



Q2










legislation.


legislation.






I do not support this.











Q16

Comments: I do not support the removal of SROs from the schools in My District because they have been helpful mitigating legal concerns with My Children. The Wilmington Police Department has done great work in keeping My Youth from leaving the school in handcuffs. WPD does an outstanding job of working closely with My Constituents. SROs have diffused situations in the City Schools and they also partner with school counselors and administrators to find viable solutions for My Children. Prior to Covid-19, I visited my schools on a regular basis. I witnessed SROs, who know My Families, assist My Constituents in ways unimaginable. I am grateful that they were able to help My Children and prevent them from going to juvenile detention. I do

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believe that the SRO situation does need to be addressed in suburban schools, where the training for those tasked with patrolling may not have background on a family's history or the trauma they are experiencing. I welcome the opportunity to engage in conversations which lead to actions that benefit My Children and their educators.

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(D) Gerald Brady Response


Q2















Q16 Comments:

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(R) Jordan Nally Response


Q2















Q16 Comments:

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Representative District 5 – Bear, Newark

(D) Kendra Johnson Response


Q2



Q4 Will y

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