I read with interest Rep. Pete Schwartzkopf’s recent disclaimer of endorsing Claire Snyder-Hall for representative of District 14. Schwartzkopf took issue with an ad Claire took out in the Cape Gazette congratulating him on his retirement and urging the electorate to vote for her in the upcoming primary election to continue his policies. He also took issue with an Instagram post of a picture of Claire and him together taken years ago, in which she congratulated him on his retirement. Schwartzkopf suggested both pieces insinuated that he was endorsing her as his successor for District 14, and he clarified he was not. He also suggested such pieces were not only misleading, but unethical.
People will always have differing opinions about what such posts and ads mean. I do not believe these pieces were intended to mislead the public into believing that Schwartzkopf was endorsing Claire. I believe they were a sincere congratulations on his retirement. Even though Claire may have criticized Schwartzkopf in the past, as he stated in his letter and which she was entitled to do, she could still congratulate him for a long and distinguished career, and support other issues on which they were in agreement. I believe the pieces were just that: congratulations to him and a request to the public to vote for her to continue his work.
I intend to vote for Claire because I believe of all the candidates in the primary field, she is far and away the most qualified to be a state representative. I have worked with Claire for four years in her capacity as executive director of Common Cause Delaware, and in my capacity as a committee chair and a board chair of a Sussex County nonprofit organization. I, and a host of other Delaware organizations, know her to be totally familiar with the issues facing Sussex County, including expansion of voting rights, environmental issues caused by overdevelopment, the education of our children, better healthcare in Delaware, protecting women’s and LGBTQ+ rights, gun safety and more. Together, we have advocated for (or against, as the case may be) legislation to benefit Delawareans.
Even prior to joining Common Cause, Claire has prepared herself for this position with her educational achievements (including a doctorate in political science from Rutgers University) and 20 years of teaching about the democratic process. She is the author of five books dealing with issues about democracy.
I do not believe any other candidate in the primary election or even any eventual opponent in the general election is as qualified and prepared as Claire. I support Claire personally and urge others to vote for her, because she is the best person for the job.
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