Sussex countian seeks state treasurer’s post on Democratic ticket

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Sussex County resident Colleen Davis has filed for the post of State Treasurer. She is a Democrat and to date has no primary opposition.

She would face off against Republican first term incumbent Ken Simpler who emerged victorious after a  controversy arising from the departure of former State Treasurer Chip Flowers, a Democrat. A Green Party candidate has also filed for the post.

Flowers, who later moved to Massachusetts, had rocky relations with former Gov. Jack Markell and the General Assembly. Some of his supporters turned to Simpler,  who is now a rising star in Republican Party circles.

Simpler, an executive with a hotel group owned by his family,   defeated war veteran Sean Barney, who had the support of Markell.

A Dagsboro resident, Davis is a health care consultant, according to a recent story in the Delaware State News.

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Simpler has kept a low profile in Republican Party politics and has pushed for changes in the state budget process. He has backed away from suggestions of running for governor in 2020.

He has also refrained from making the office into an economic information and development platform, an approach championed by Flowers.

Simper has backed the findings of a study at the end of last year’s near chaos in Legislative Hall as the General Assembly worked to plug a nearly $400 million budget gaps.

The study cited by Simpler calls for a “budget smoothing” process that would set aside revenues in good times for periods when budget gaps appear.

 A bill that would make the process into a Constitutional Amendment has been introduced and has the support of Gov. John Carney and a bipartisan group of legislators.

A key to the success of Davis’ candidacy will be whether she can attract fund-raising and volunteer support from women upset with President Trump.

State Sen.  Stephanie Hansen was able to gain such support and win in a swing district in the Middletown, Glasgow, and Newark areas, after a special election that came after State Sen. Bethany Hall-Long became lieutenant governor.

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