Editor’s note: Multiple attempts to contact Brian P. Jenkins for the Cape Gazette’s primary guide went unanswered.
For whatever reason, my candidate information was left out of the Cape Gazette. I am asking you, the voter, to read what I have to say here and make your decision Tuesday, Sept. 10, based upon these facts. This state ranks last in financial support from the federal government for veterans. The House created a bill that would have gone a long way to rectify that by creating a cabinet-level position reporting to the governor directly, but it was halted in the Senate. The Senate also stopped a bill that had zero dollars out of the state budget that protected veterans against organizations getting rich from veterans trying to qualify for disabilities under the PACT Act. This state has done quite a bit for veterans on a state level, but a liaison directly to the Veterans Administration is needed to resolve many pending issues for veterans.
Educators of our children are not making the best use of the money we are spending. Delaware ranks 20th nationwide in expenditures per student. Yet the state ranks 45th in testing results; 75% of fourth-graders are not reading to grade level, 82% of eighth-graders are not proficient in math. We are losing a generation of children. My opponent in this election is part of the education system that has gone from ranking sixth in the nation in 1994 to 45th today. That is 30 short years. If you care for the future of your children and grandchildren and beyond, you need to stand up and make a change now.
Expansive growth is a problem. Growth in and of itself is a good thing. Unplanned growth is devastating to the very reasons people want to live here. Sussex is the only county in Delaware that does not charge the contractors building this growth enough to accommodate the necessary infrastructure. Roads, water and sewers, trash collection, medical facilities, the power grid are a few of the examples of infrastructure planning problems. How can growth continue without an economy that can support the growth? Delaware is the only state with a negative gross domestic product.
I have lived in eight states, attended six colleges and universities, accumulated well over 250 semester hours of college, been part of the working world for over 52 years with blue-collar and white-collar jobs, as well as serving in our military. I am running for this office because I have a calling. I will be supporting veterans, equal rights for women, finding creative ways to enhancing revenue, maintaining ways to protect our environment, developing transportation solutions, finding solutions to waning education results and limiting unplanned growth. If you are looking for transparency, honesty and integrity from a spiritual person, vote for Brian P. Jenkins Tuesday, Sept. 10, for state representative in District 20.
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