Rep. Pam Maier, a 12-year legislator from Pike Creek, is retiring as her family prepares to move to Colorado this fall.
Maier said her husband chose to take an early retirement from DuPont and plans to pursue a new opportunity in Colorado Springs, a city where they lived for two years prior to moving to Delaware.
Maier, 52, began serving in the General Assembly in 1994. A Drummond Hill resident, Maier said she was proud of the way she represented her community.
“I felt like I was always available to the constituents I represent, either through the morning coffees I hosted or all the civic meetings I attended,” she said. “I was always happy to help and willing to serve.”
Maier, a Republican, said she was proud of many of the things she and her colleagues were able to accomplish. She said some of her most notable accomplishments included her efforts to reform the Office of the Child Advocate and the Truancy Courts, as well her work on a graduated driver’s license program for teenagers.
She said she was also grateful for the close bonds she formed with colleagues over the years.
“I got to know so many great people on a real personal level,” she said. “I’ll miss the state employees and the staff and all the wonderful people working behind the scenes.”
Dems see opportunity
Maier’s retirement puts the 21st District in play for Democrats, who hold a 5,770-4,982 registration edge over the Republicans.
Almost immediately after Maier’s retirement was announced, New Castle County Democratic Executive Committee Chairman Jim Paoli released a statement saying the party has several possible candidates in mind.
“So far, several bright and energetic potential Democratic candidates have expressed an interest in running for this office,” he said. “With such strong Democratic turnout anticipated in November, our well-constructed grassroots organization at the committee level and a powerful get-out-the-vote effort driven by the party, I'm confident we'll field a strong candidate who will be successful in filling Rep. Maier's open seat and bring Democrats one step closer to taking the majority in the Delaware House of Representatives.”
New Castle County Councilman Timothy Sheldon (D-Pike Creek) told the Community News he fielded phone calls from both Gov. Ruth Ann Minner and House Minority Leader Bob Gilligan (D-Sherwood Park) urging him to run. Sheldon, who has already filed to run for a second term on the County Council, said he would decide which office to seek over the next week.
