Hockessin's Senate candidates differ mainly in style, rather than substance

They didn’t always strongly distinguish themselves on the issues during an hour-long pre-Primary debate at Hockessin Memorial Hall, but styles varied among the seven Hockessin-area Senate candidates.

The debate, hosted by the Community News and the Greater Hockessin Area Development Association, featured the five candidates – three Republicans and two Democrats – vying for the 4th Senate District seat being vacated by lieutenant governor hopeful Charles Copeland, as well as two Democrats seeking their party’s nomination to face Republican incumbent Liane Sorenson in the 6th.

Responding a question about the City of Wilmington’s use of eminent domain on the Christina Riverfront, all said they support legislation that would curb the practice.

John Mackenzie and Michael Terranova, whose 6th District includes portions of Hockessin and Newark, both said they believe eminent domain should be reserved for vital public works projects and not used as a tool to foster redevelopment.

“It should become the nuclear option,” Mackenzie told 100 attendees. His answer was echoed by 4th District Democrats Dee Durham and Mike Katz as well as by Republicans Rich Abbott, John Clatworthy and Michael Fleming. The 4th District spans Hockessin to Brandywine Hundred and includes Greenville and Centreville.

Katz, a doctor who co-owns an anesthesiology practice, said the use of eminent domain in Wilmington was “an example of big business stepping on little business people.” Clatworthy called it “abhorrent” and Abbott said he helped write Senate Bill 245 which would have restricted Wilmington’s takings had it not been vetoed by Gov. Ruth Ann Minner.

Asked whether the state should take a more significant lead in preserving open space, Durham, the executive director of S.A.V.E. – a Chester County-based group dedicated to preserving natural areas in the region – said fighting to increase the amount of money the state makes available to purchase open space would “be her highest priority” if elected.

Fleming said he believed it was important to preserve natural areas around Hockessin and in the Brandywine Valley, but said orderly growth was also important for sustaining a community.

“Once you stop growing, you start to die,” he said. “There are plenty of places in Western Pennsylvania and Ohio that would take some of our growth.”

Terranova said he’d like to engage the private sector in preservation efforts. He also had an idea for what some of the state’s open space could be used for.

“Delaware is one of the few states without a Boy Scout’s reservation camp,” said the father of three Eagle Scouts. “I’d like to see one here.”

Regarding government transparency and coordination, all of the candidates agreed that they’d like to see better coordination between the county and state transportation planners. And, all said they would work hard as senators to open up the General Assembly to the public.

Clatworthy suggested putting all contracts and expenditures related to the public school system on the state’s Website and said he would fight to change Senate rules to eliminate the so-called  “desk drawer veto” – when a legislator heading a committee does not allow a bill to come up for a vote.

“We send legislators to Dover to vote legislation up and down, not to lock it in a desk drawer,” he said.

Abbott agreed, saying the General Assembly should not be protected from the Freedom of Information Act and that it should do less business behind closed doors.

Both Abbott and Clatworthy seemed genuinely angry over the past failings of legislators to open up the government, while others were more pragmatic about it being an unfortunate political reality that was slow to change.

“This is a testimony to the go-along to get-along attitude when a bill can’t get to the floor with a majority vote,” Mackenzie said, referring to the Senate’s reluctance to use its ability to override a commmittee chariman's stalling tactics, by voting a bill out of committee.

Stylistic differences between the candidates were most apparent when they were asked whether they supported giving driver's licenses to illegal aliens.

Terranova, who consistently gave the most concise answers of the evening, grabbed the microphone and emphatically answered with just one word: No.

Abbott built on Terranova’s response, but his “No way, José” response was greeted with timid laughter from some and uncomfortable silence from others. Clatworthy was equally contemptuous of the idea.

“Before I’d give them a driver’s license, I’d give them a bus ticket,” he said.

Durham was more analytical, saying her gut reaction was no, but that she could see both sides of the argument.

Mackenzie, however, said he supported the concept.

“If you have a car accident with an undocumented driver, you’d be better off if they had a license because then they’d have to be insured,” he said.

The statewide Primary Election will be held Tuesday, September 9.