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It’s official. Retired Superior Court Judge Bill Lee of Rehoboth Beach is running for governor.
After entering the race in January against two strong Democrats, Lee stepped out of the race in mid-March, saying he didn’t have enough money to run a competitive campaign.
But after Republicans raised over $5,000 at a Monday, May 12 meeting in Millsboro – with two single-handed donations of $1,200 – Lee said he was reenergized.
In May, Lee’s name resurfaced at the state Republican convention, when he garnered nearly 81 percent of the delegate vote, while he was off vacationing in Florida.
As for making his bid official, he said he simply wanted to get it over with, and on Tuesday, May 13, he laid down a filing fee of $5,300 at the Department of Elections in Dover.
Lee said the state would be a better, well-oiled machine under his Republican leadership compared to the Democratic stewardship of gubernatorial hopefuls Lt. Gov. John Carney or State Treasurer Jack Markell.
He also said he has more experience than Carney or Markell – experience he gained through campaigning and debating against Gov. Ruth Ann Minner to whom he narrowly lost in 2004.
Moreover, he said he has solutions to state problems.
“I think both of them, for different reasons, are a part of the existing Minner administration,” he said. “They will have difficulty convincing people they will make changes. I have the advantage of having addressed the issues four years ago. Time has proven I was right,” he said. “Many of the remedial things Democrats are talking about today are things I proposed four years ago.” Lee said he already addressed the question of cancer clusters and helping small business. “Suddenly, that’s Jack Markell’s program,” he said.
As for Carney, Lee said when Minner said the schools were in great shape, Carney went along with her. “That’s just a few examples. It’s amazing how many there are,” he said.
Markell said Republicans have no business in state business – including Lee. He called for change and, like Lee, said anything short of his leadership would be an extension of the Minner administration.
“I think Delaware can do better. Delaware is a great place to live, but lately, under the Minner-Carney administration, we’ve been headed off on the wrong-track. I’m running for governor because we need new ideas and new leadership to get Delaware back on top,” said Markell. He said eight years under the Republican Party nationally has caused damage locally. “The Republican Party doesn’t have the right recipe for change. George Bush came into office claiming that government couldn’t do anything right, and he did his best to prove exactly that. Delaware needs bold new Democratic solutions, and that’s what my campaign is offering,” Markell said. He advocates health insurance for all residents, better and cheaper prescriptions through state and health insurance company negotiations, and tax incentives for providing cleaner, more efficient energy.
Carney said he will focus on creating a better local economy, improving schools and, like Markell, he advocates health insurance for all residents.
Carney referred to a track record of accomplishments as an incumbent familiar with elected office. A vote for Lee, he said, would extend faulty Republican policies from Washington to Dover.
“Like most elections, this election is about the future and state of our country. We need to change the failed Bush policies that brought the national economic downturn. At the same time, we need new ideas and new energy to address the challenges we face: global climate change and the economy,” said Carney.
“I’ve been talking to voters for months now about my plan to create a 21st-century economy, build world-class schools and provide affordable, quality health care for all of Delaware,” he said.
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Lee to open campaign offices across state
“It’s a scramble operation now,” said retired Superior Court Judge Bill Lee, who said he was encouraged to file for the governor’s race after a Monday, May 12 Sussex County Republican Committee meeting.
Introducing Lee at the meeting was Sussex County Chairman Ron Sams. “Hang on a minute, here’s the next governor,” he said. About 100 Republican supporters rose from their seats to cheer Lee on.
“I have to admit, I like this,” Lee said. Senate Minority Leader Charlie Copeland, R-Wilmington, is running for lieutenant governor on the same ticket. Copeland told attendees the two-and-a-half-hour drive from New Castle County in a nor’easter was well worth it. He called the Lee/Copeland ticket a winning one. In Sussex County, Lee said he will use the Republican office in Georgetown for campaigning.
In New Castle County, GOP headquarters will serve as a northern post. But, in Kent County Lee is still searching for a campaign office. He said supporters can also expect a fourth campaign office to open somewhere near the beaches. Now the next challenge, Lee said, is assembling a staff, recruiting more contributors and planning fundraisers.
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