Democrat has one Republican’s support

The News Journal, June 8, 2008

State Insurance Commissioner Matthew P. Denn made it official Saturday: He’s running as a Democrat for lieutenant governor.

Denn made the traditional three-county sweep, starting with a breakfast of scrapple at the Georgia House in Millsboro.

He was joined by local political luminaries like former Millsboro Mayor Thelma Monroe and former state representatives Charles P. West and John Atkins. Jack Markell, state treasurer and Democratic candidate for governor, also was on hand.

But perhaps the most compelling person in the room was Republican Loriann White, who introduced Denn to the crowd.

The two had never met prior to Saturday but White, a cancer survivor, credits Denn with stepping in to resolve significant problems with her health insurance provider when she was going through cancer treatments.

White said that when she was first diagnosed by doctors, they told her, “You have three years to live.”

White said she was only 37 and had two young children. Her health insurance wouldn’t cover treatments at a specialty center in New York.

Pointing to Denn, she said: “This is a man who found out about someone in need.”

He helped resolve the insurance issues. White said she would always support Denn.

Denn said his goal, if elected, will be to stand up for children in Delaware.

“There is untapped genius in our kids,” he said. “The next Einstein could be a 10-year-old kid in foster care in Selbyville.”

Denn said his mission will be to help children of the state succeed so every child goes as far as he or she can.