Gunn, Hall-Long seek lieutenant governor seat
There are two candidates facing off in the race to fill the vacant lieutenant governor seat – Republican La Mar Gunn and Democrat Bethany Hall-Long. Gunn, NAACP Central Delaware chapter president, is looking to become the first African-American from the Republican Party ever elected statewide. Hall-Long has been a member of the Delaware General Assembly since first being elected representative in 2003. She has been a senator since 2008. The lieutenant governor’s seat has been vacant since January 2015, after Democrat Matt Denn stepped down and was elected attorney general.
• La Mar Gunn •
Party: Republican
Age: 43
Education: BA in liberal studies University of Delaware; MBA, Delaware State University
Occupation: CEO/financial advisor
Residence: Dover
Family: Married, five children
Relevant experience: 20-year business owner in Delaware who began his career at the Chrysler plant working at night while studying at the University of Delaware. My first professional job after college was at another car manufacturer, General Motors in Wilmington, so I understand intimately how good manufacturing jobs lifted me and many other Delawareans to economic self-sufficiency.
• Bethany Hall-Long •
Party: Democrat
Age: 52
Education: BS in nursing; master’s degree in community health nursing; doctorate in health policy and nursing administration.
Occupation: Public health nurse, nursing professor, state senator
Residence: Middletown
Family: Husband, Dana; son, Brock
Relevant experience: 30 years as a public health nurse, 20 years as a professor at the University of Delaware, 14 years as a state legislator.
La Mar Gunn – This office is critical to effective state governance in Delaware. The leadership position is important, serving as the second in command, backup, key advisor and support to the governor. The lieutenant governor presides over the Senate, which governs our laws, and the board of pardons. The fact that it has remained vacant lends to a serious gap in state governance and is unfair to the citizens in Delaware.
Bethany Hall-Long – Delaware is facing unprecedented challenges, and as our next lieutenant governor, I will use my experience as a public health nurse, and 14 years of legislative leadership to work with our next governor on many of the issues facing Delaware families. Delawareans across the state want better-paying jobs, an improved education system and better access to quality healthcare. I am confident that together, we can make progress on these issues by working with the Legislature, and most importantly the community to continue to move Delaware in a positive direction.
• Besides the presiding over the board of pardons and the Senate, what are the top three most important responsibilities the lieutenant governor of Delaware has?
L.G – Stepping in for the governor should he/she be unable to perform. Otherwise, the top three responsibilities include serving as an advocate and identifying initiatives to support economic stimulation and stability; criminal justice reform: serving as an advocate for equality to initiate and support public policies and strategies on key issues that impact the quality of life in Delaware; serving as an active and strategic thought partner to attract business and livable-wage jobs that will support our citizens throughout the state.
B.H. – The lieutenant governor would take over the responsibilities of the governor should the governor step down or should an unthinkable tragedy occur. The lieutenant governor plays an important role in assisting the governor with legislative initiatives and projects that will help Delawareans prosper and our economy grow. The office provides constituent services to Delawareans across the state. The lieutenant governor plays a key role in connecting citizens with state services and can act as a liaison between state departments and the public. All three of these responsibilities require someone who has proven leadership and experience and is prepared on day one.
L.G. – As a person of faith, I personally do not believe in the death penalty. I do not think that a life exchanged for another supports any meaningful resolution for the victims. I do think that in the case of capital offenses, such as the murder of a police officer, the judicial system should and must be applied equitably within the law. As lieutenant governor, I will abide by the state's laws in such matters.
B.H. – I have worked in prisons where I have been around the most violent criminals in Delaware. I also understand the pain of those who have lost loved ones to senseless acts of violence. That said, the application of the death penalty in recent cases has caused several states to stop executions. I agree with this decision. With over 82 percent of our inmates struggling with a mental illness or substance abuse, we aren't going to arrest or punish our way out of this issue. We should invest more time figuring out how to prevent behavioral health issues from manifesting.
