The News Journal, April 22,2008

Democratic candidate for lieutenant governor Matt Denn said Monday he would press for tougher controls on power plant emissions and stepped-up efforts to eliminate lead paint hazards in housing as part a children’s environmental health initiative.

Denn, the incumbent state insurance commissioner, said children are especially vulnerable to mercury and respiratory irritants released by power plant smokestacks, and are too often harmed by exposure to lead paint in older homes despite years of work to eliminate the threat.

Although the lieutenant governor has no direct control over environmental policy, Denn said he would press for “strict and unyielding” regulation of polluters.

He also said that he would urge regulators to uphold current agreements for pollution reductions at Delaware power plants in Dover, Millsboro and Wilmington.

Delaware should examine community housing codes and lead paint standards, Denn said, then press for local government enforcement or state action to assure that houses are safe.

“The bottom line with lead is, the standards exist. We need to enforce them,” Denn said.

Denn faces Wilmington City Council President Ted Blunt in the Democratic primary Sept. 9.

Blunt said Monday that he has joined with City Council members in the past in calling for tight controls on state polluters. He said later that the city’s licensing and inspection program has long worked for removal of lead paint hazards when notified of problems.

“He’s talking about what he would like to do. I’m responding to things that already have been done,” Blunt said.