Thoughts and choices for the election

Here are our thoughts and choices in some of this year’s contested races.

For U.S. Senate, Carper is solid as a rock. Another six years should close out an impressive political career.

For U.S. Representative, Rochester brings energy and sparkling intelligence.

For attorney general, auditor and treasurer, we favor Jennings, Spadola and incumbent Simpler. Jennings because of her decades of experience as prosecutor and defender; Spadola because of his educational and investigative qualifications; Simpler because he good ideas for strengthening the state’s budget process. Rehoboth Commissioner McGuiness is ambitious and a go-getter but not a good fit for auditor.

Incumbent 6th District Sen. Lopez stays close to his constituents, doesn’t shy from tough issues, embraces bipartisanship. Challenger Baker has a long history of public service in Sussex, listens carefully, and offers a chance for a Sussex voice in the Senate’s controlling Democratic caucus. In the 20th District, incumbent Smyk represents the conservative streak of his district but isn’t afraid to buck his party. Challenger Bucchioni, a hard-charging ex-football coach and CEO, embraces more liberal values, and is part of the wave of voters moving into the district.

Voters can’t make a bad choice in these two races.

For Sussex Council, we favor the women. In the fourth district, Rappa understands the challenges of sea-level rise and rapid growth around the Inland Bays. She showed her savvy recently by successfully applying for a $500,000 federal grant to help prisoners transition into the workforce. In the fifth, Magee’s outspokenness and agricultural heritage would provoke long-needed discussions about reconciling development pressure and agricultural preservation.

Finally, let’s send Schwartzkopf back to Dover for the 14th Representative District. His Democratic colleagues statewide regularly vote him into one of the state’s most powerful positions: Speaker of the House. He’s demonstrated willingness to reach across the aisle to his Republican Sussex colleagues to find votes to pass important legislation when his own caucus comes up short. Refreshing bipartisanship.

The candidates have campaigned. Now it’s our turn. Vote!