Democrats ‘Chill with Jill’ at the Paradise Grill

The day was picture perfect for a political rally, sunny, with a light breeze coming off the waters of Indian River Bay.

And there was a big name in attendance, Jill Biden, wife of Vice President Joe Biden. Democrats had been invited to “Chill with Jill” at the Paradise Grill in Long Neck in honor of five female candidates.

The place was abuzz before her arrival. Would Joe also be attending? How about Beau?

As it turned out, neither Joe nor Beau turned up, not that people seemed disappointed. Joe is a legendary schmoozer, but Jill can hold her own, smiling, laughing, hugging people as she moved through the crowd. (Surprisingly, the Secret Service wasn’t especially noticeable.)

Paulette Rappa, running against Rep. Ruth Briggs King in District 37, opened the event by talking about how women have waited – waited for their men to come from war, for the right to vote, to own property, to break the corporate glass ceiling. “Now the wait is over,” she said.

As evidence, she pointed to the five Democratic women who were being honored that day. In addition to herself, they (and the seats they are seeking) are Shirley Price, District 4, County Council; Marie Mayor, District 20 representative; Alma Roach, recorder of deeds; and Claire Snyder-Hall, District 6 Senate.

Of those, Price, if elected, would be in the position of making the biggest difference to residents of the Cape Region. In terms of everyday life, county council decisions have the most impact. (District 4 stretches from Bethany Beach to Henlopen Acres and takes in the areas around the Inland Bays. Price, of Ocean View, is running against Republican incumbent George Cole, also of Ocean View.) “I’m running to bring civility and common sense and land use planning to our world,” Price said. “We haven’t had it, and it’s our time.”

Mayor spoke next, leading the Pledge of Allegiance. During the last election, a woman told Mayor she wouldn’t be getting her vote because of the candidate’s supposed refusal to say the Pledge of Allegiance, which was among the more ridiculous charges being tossed around. This year, Mayor said the pledge in public with plenty of witnesses.

Mayor also asked attendees to “join with us as we do everything we can to ensure that the growth – that is absolutely going to happen here – is well thought out, well planned and preserves our natural environment.”

Roach followed by belting out the most spirited “Star Spangled Banner” I’ve ever heard. I wouldn’t be surprised if the notes carried all the way to Fort McHenry.

Next up was Snyder-Hall, who is running against Sen. Ernie Lopez, a Republican. “I’ve knocked on doors all over the district and I know that it’s loud and clear that we are ready to ignite change,” Snyder-Hall said, “women and men together igniting change.”

Introduced by Sussex County Democratic Chair Mitch Crane, Jill Biden spoke about the changes she has seen in her lifetime, with women being appointed to president’s cabinet and to the Supreme Court.

While she emphasized the role of women, she was careful not to sound too partisan. “The solutions to the problems most affecting women today are not Democratic solutions or Republican solutions,” she said. “They are common sense solutions.”

But she didn’t leave much doubt about who should carry out those solutions. Quoting Margaret Thatcher, Biden said, “If you want something said, ask a man. If you want something done …”

At this many of the women chimed in, speaking as one with Biden, “… ASK A WOMAN!”

Speaking as a man, “Ouch.”

Christopher still in the running

Like a character in a horror movie, Sheriff Jeff Christopher keeps coming back.

Despite repeated attempts, Christopher has been unsuccessful in turning the sheriff’s office into the county’s top law enforcement agency.

He couldn’t convince Sussex County Council, Superior Court, the Delaware Supreme Court or even the Republican primary voters, who handed him a loss against Robert T. Lee of Seaford. (Yes, it was close, but a loss is a loss. After all, he had the advantage of incumbency.) It seemed time to roll the credits, but last week Christopher announced that he’s running as a write-in candidate in the Nov. 4 general election.

Good for him.

Having lost constitutional argument in courts, Christopher has clung to the title of “the people’s sheriff.”

He would have some claim to that title if he did indeed win on Election Day. Winning as a write-in candidate would demonstrate significant public support.

But if he doesn’t win – if he is rejected by “the people” he claims to represent – it would appear we have come to the end of the final reel. The not-particularly great question of the sheriff’s role in county government would finally be settled.

At least I think so. With Christopher, you can never be sure there won’t be a sequel.

Besides Republican Lee, Christopher will be running against Democrat Beau Gooch of Milton, the former police chief of Lewes.