The News Journal, November 5, 2008

Democrat Matt Denn became the state’s next lieutenant governor with more than 61 percent of the vote, defeating Republican Charlie Copeland.

Denn garnered 236,741 votes compared to Copeland’s 149,222 in a year that saw overwhelming victories for Democrats across the nation.

Speaking to supporters at the Doubletree Hotel in Wilmington, Denn said he got two messages from voters. They know the state faces difficult times and needs proven leadership, “and the old slash-and-burn politics does not work anymore in Delaware,” he said.

“Starting tomorrow morning — not January — Jack Markell and I will go to work for you to help turn this state around,” he said. “I have two little boys. We’ve been trying to teach them not to call other people names. The other side has called me a trial lawyer, a politician and other things I won’t relate. Tonight they can call me lieutenant governor.”

Copeland addressed Republican supporters at the Christiana Hilton, saying that Tuesday was not the day to lament the loss.

“I view this as a night to say let’s reload, let’s get back on the horse and let’s start moving forward,” he said.

With Republicans defeated across the state — including in Copeland’s home district, the only in the state with a Republican majority — he said much of the losses could be attributed to national politics.

“It’s hard to beat George Bush, and that’s what we’ve had to face,” he said.

Copeland said it was too early to start talking about a run for governor in 2012. But within moments of delivering his concession speech, supporters began approaching Copeland to voice regrets that he didn’t run for the state’s top spot.

“You should have run for governor,” one supporter said, hugging Copeland after he stepped off stage.

But that may not have mattered considering the wave of Democratic sentiment across the state and the number of Republican Party stalwarts who fell in other races.

At the polls Tuesday, Wayne A. Widdoes, 65, of Newark, said the Republican Party was his motivation for heading to the voting booth — and not because he was voting for its candidates.

“We’ve got to have change,” Widdoes said. “It’s that simple, we need to change.”

He said he opted for Jack Markell, the Democrat who won the governor’s office, and Denn, adding Markell is “right for this state” after problems created by outgoing Gov. Ruth Ann Minner.

Bruce Jester of Rockland saw Denn and Copeland as qualified for the lieutenant governor’s job, but voted for Denn — because he had voted for Markell for governor.

“It would be a waste to have a lieutenant governor from the other party,” Jester said. “They have a better chance of getting things done together.”

The News Journal, October 21, 2008

Education and spending were the main topics discussed Monday at a debate at Hockessin Memorial Hall for candidates vying for two state Senate seats and lieutenant governor.

Candidates for the 4th and 6th Senate Districts fielded questions from the Hockessin Area Development Association, before the candidates for lieutenant governor, Republican Charlie Copeland and Democrat Matt Denn, addressed health care and education.

“In respect to public education, dealing with those issues has a lot to do with the economy, both in the short term and the long term,” Denn said.

Both candidates said their campaign has been positive, and focused on the issues.

“I’m the only candidate of the four running for lieutenant governor or governor that has actually created jobs in the last 15 years,” Copeland said. “That’s what we need to turn our economy around, someone who can create jobs in Delaware.”

When asked about health insurance for children, the lieutenant governor candidates had different outlooks on providing government assistance.

Copeland cited programs in other states that have insured children by providing assistance to parents who are unable to afford the insurance costs and assistance for health issues that are common. He also suggested assisting small businesses by providing monetary aid to companies that can’t afford coverage.

Copeland supports allowing people to purchase insurance from companies based in other states, a move he said increases competition among providers, and lowers costs.

Denn said he has introduced a plan to insure all of Delaware’s children, including increasing enrollment in the state’s CHIP program and allowing parents to insure their children, but not themselves, through employer coverage.

Denn said he disagrees with Copeland’s stance on deregulating health care coverage by allowing people to purchase it out-of-state. He said this could cause problems for people seeking claims to be paid and finding doctors…

Brandywine East Community News, October 21, 2008

Hockessin, Del. — With 15, maybe 20 debates under their belts, the candidates for lieutenant governor have been asked just about everything.

So it’s no surprise that both Republican Charlie Copeland and Democrat Matt Denn seemed well-rehearsed for their 40 minute face-off Monday at Hockessin Memorial Hall.

In the forum, sponsored by the Community News, both focused their remarks on education and the economy, and both touted their experience and achievements in their previous roles – Copeland as state senator and Denn as Insurance Commissioner.

On the subject of education, Denn said the state had to do more to recruit and retain teachers, and said he would support financial incentives for teachers whose students excel and for those who are willing to teach in troubled schools.

If elected, he said he’ll convene a group of parents, teachers and administrators to help define what are considered classroom expenditures and what are administrative costs. Only after that is determined, can the state set criteria as to how much of its funding must go directly to the “classroom.”

“We need to tell the local school districts ‘you need to meet that [percentage] and then you can have some discretion as to where to use that money,’” he said.

But Copeland said he thinks there have been enough meetings, and said the next governor and lieutenant governor need to take the lead on pushing legislation that solves the problem. He said its time the state began implementing tenants of the Vision 2015 education proposal.

“We’ve heard from a number of teacher and administrators…and now its time to get something done,” he said.

Asked about development, Copeland said it was important for lawmakers to strike a balance between individual property rights and their responsibility to regulate uses and zoning. He said one of Delaware’s biggest shortcomings has been its failure to adequately fund open space preservation efforts.

“We’ve seen our budget frittered away on so many other areas and the growth of our personnel to 31,000 employees,” he said.

Denn said the state’s budget crunch is going to force officials to change the way they approach preservation.

“The days when we can buy our way out of the open space program if not over, are on hold for a while,” he said.

He said state planners have to do more to coordinate with county officials to make sure growth is slated for areas which already have the necessary infrastructure.

Perhaps the biggest contrast between the two candidates came on the subject of healthcare. With Medicaid costs rising by 14 percent per year in Delaware, Copeland said the state has to look at ways to make the program more affordable and more user-friendly for those who are enrolled.

He said Delaware should consider models like those in Oklahoma and Rhode Island, where Medicaid can pay an individual’s share of a policy when his or her employer is willing to pay the other portion.

Copeland called for less government regulation on health care and said instead, the state should be fostering competition that could drive premiums down.

Denn rejected that approach.

“I don’t think deregulation will help reduce costs, and it raises questions about how people who don’t get their claims paid will be able to have recourse,” he said.

Denn said he has a plan to cover every child in Delaware, by increasing enrollment in the federally-funded Children’s Health Insurance Program and by allowing families who may not be able to purchase a plan for their entire family to be able to purchase a policy for their children individually.

Throughout the evening, Denn linked himself closely with Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jack Markell, while Copeland never mentioned Bill Lee, the Republican candidate. Copeland addressed that divergence in his closing remarks. He pledged to be independent, and said he would oppose “bad legislation” no matter who else supported it.

“I’m not going to be Bill Lee’s lieutenant governor or Jack Markell’s lieutenant governor,” he said. “I’m running to be Delaware’s lieutenant governor.”

WDEL 1150 AM, October 20, 2008

The Democrats running for Governor and Lieutenant Governor want to link businesses and schools to help create a strong workforce in Delaware.

Jack Markell and Matt Denn say the state can’t have a world class economy without a world class school system.

Under Denn’s leadership, they’ll ask business owners to encourage their workers to become mentors, giving school kids the help they need to be successful.

Chris Tigani, President of NKS Distributors says he’s on board since he knows it’ll help his business down the line. Video Here

Denn hopes to have 10 partnership in place during his first year in office.

News Journal Letter To The Editor, October 19, 2008

Matt Denn is one candidate who actually puts his money where his mouth is. He truly feels for the people of Delaware and fights for us when needed? I am a mom of two children with phenylketonuria, a genetic disorder where the body cannot break down the protein, phenylalanine. When not detected, or treated by dietary restrictions, people with PKU suffer catastrophic, non-reversible brain damage.

The only treatment for PKU is a low-protein diet and a special medical formula. The food and formula are unbelievably expensive. A box of low protein pasta is anywhere from $8-$12. Bread is $10 a loaf, formula can run from $400-$1,200 a month.

Most insurance carriers did not feel it was their responsibility to cover these medically necessary items? Delaware families affected by PKU have been fighting to get a law passed for 11 plus years.

With Matt Denn’s help, we finally got a law passed that makes the insurance carriers pay 100 percent for food and formula. Matt Denn was also there to help make sure the insurance companies complied with the new state mandate. His unwavering support was key in finally getting this legislation passed.

He has earned the loyal devotion of all of the PKU families here in Delaware. So if the people of Delaware weren’t sure how Matt Denn would hold up as lieutenant governor, they can set their worries aside.

Christy Schulze, Dover

News Journal Letter To The Editor, October 13, 2008

Matt Denn is for the people. When I was diagnosed with an aggressive cancer, the doctors needed a PET Scan to evaluate the extent of the disease.

I did not meet the “criteria” for the insurance company to pay for the test. When I called Matt Denn, he fought the insurance company, always staying in touch by e-mail or phone.

Due to the efforts of Matt Denn and my physician, the insurance company finally paid the $4,000 fee. This test proved to save my life.

Do I want a lieutenant governor who will go the extra mile? Do I want a lieutenant governor that will work for the individual? Absolutely.

Linda Pitrizzi, Milton

The News Journal, October 11, 2008

Democrat Matt Denn has a commanding lead over Republican Charlie Copeland in the race to be Delaware’s next lieutenant governor, according to a poll released this week — the first public poll to put numbers on their race.

The poll of 429 likely Delaware voters, conducted Monday through Thursday by West Chester University’s Political Science Department for PBS station WHYY/12, found that 53.2 percent of respondents said they were voting for Denn, 38.6 percent for Copeland, 0.2 percent for another candidate and 8 percent were undecided. Denn and Copeland are the only candidates in the race; Blue Enigma Party candidate Peter Cullen and Democrat Ted Blunt both have withdrawn.

The poll shows a tight race for state insurance commissioner, with 44.2 percent of respondents said they are voting for Republican John Brady, compared with 42.8 percent for Democrat Karen Weldin Steward. The insurance commissioner’s race had the largest group of undecided voters, with 11.8 percent responding they had not chosen a candidate.

In a poll conducted two weeks ago by Fairleigh Dickinson University, Stewart had a 41-33 lead over Brady and almost a quarter of the 601 likely voters polled said they were unsure.

The WHYY-West Chester University poll also reaffirmed margins for the presidential, gubernatorial, U.S. Senate and U.S. House races reported in other polls.

For the presidential race in Delaware, 55.5 percent said they were voting for Barack Obama, 38.4 percent for John McCain and 6.2 percent were undecided.

For governor, 61.1 percent said they were voting for Jack Markell, 29.8 percent for Bill Lee, 0.5 percent for another candidate and 8.6 percent were undecided. Blue Enigma Party candidate Jeff Brown is on the ballot.

The poll put Sen. Joe Biden ahead in the U.S. Senate race with 64.5 percent of the vote, Christine O’Donnell with 28.5 percent, 0.2 for another candidate and 6.8 percent undecided. There is no other candidate listed on the ballot.

U.S. Rep. Mike Castle is still holding a strong lead, with the poll putting him at 65.7 percent compared with opponent Karen Hartley-Nagle’s 26.8 percent. It also found 7.2 percent were undecided for the race and 0.2 percent voting for another candidate. Mark Anthony Parks is on the ballot for the Libertarian Party.

The News Journal, October 5, 2008

DOVER — Delaware veterans seeking a voice in state government sounded out candidates for the state’s highest public offices Saturday during a forum at Delaware Technical and Community College.

About 50 veterans and family members gathered in the auditorium for a 90-minute panel discussion with six candidates for governor, lieutenant governor, and the U.S. Congress and Senate….

The candidates for lieutenant governor, Democrat Matt Denn and Republican Charlie Copeland, each touted past work they’ve done on behalf of veterans.

Denn, who has served as insurance commissioner since 2004, said his office put together an insurance guide for active duty military and veterans after he learned of their concerns.

Recently, state lawmakers passed a law to make it easier for retired doctors to return to work at a VA hospital in Delaware, he said.

Denn, who attended a ceremony last week to send off a Delaware National Guard Unit to Iraq, said he’s committed to personally reaching out to veterans.

“You’re literally standing there in the middle of this incredibly personal and painful moment,” Denn said of watching family members say goodbye. “For me, it’s a stark reminder of what a lot of people are doing for this country and what a lot of families are doing for our country.”

Copeland, who owns a small family printing business, said he doesn’t believe that veterans issues receive the attention in the Legislature they deserve.

As Senate Minority Leader, he introduced a bill two years ago to allow personalized license plates for Gold Star families, Vietnam Veterans and other veterans groups.

The bill passed earlier this year.

As lieutenant governor, Copeland said, he would use his experience and education as a small businessman to help veterans start businesses and stay in Delaware.

“If you look back in history, no democracy has lasted more than about 250 years, and we’re at about two and a quarter,” Copeland said, adding that he decided to run for office because he wanted to “stay and fight.”

“We’ve got a serious, serious problem facing us economically across the nation, but also socially across the nation,” Copeland said…

The News Journal, October 3, 2008

WILMINGTON — Jack Markell and Matt Denn pooled their policy prowess Thursday, releasing a detailed plan for how they would save taxpayers “in excess of $100 million” and balance the state budget.

It was their first formal appearance as the Democratic Party’s ticket for governor and lieutenant governor since Markell defeated Lt. Gov. John Carney Jr. in last month’s primary. And they brought a chorus line of 13 other Democratic candidates — three incumbent legislators and 10 challengers — who they hope will secure a stronger grasp of Legislative Hall for the party next year.

Markell faces GOP gubernatorial candidate Bill Lee in the Nov. 4 general election, while Denn faces GOP state Senate Minority Leader Charlie Copeland.

The 12-page Markell-Denn plan released Thursday had Markell’s fingerprints all over it — including 43 footnotes pointing readers to the sources of their numbers and other data the proposals were based on. It referred several times to research and policies Markell released during the primary leg of this election — including “Facing Forward,” his study of state demographic projections that pointed to dramatic increases in demand for state services with a concurrent decrease in the number of taxpaying residents, and “Blueprint for a Better Delaware,” a compilation of proposals on education, health care, jobs, energy, public safety and quality of life.

Markell took a subtle swing at Lee’s plan for a “zero-based” budget and his hard-line approach to government programs.

“Simply saying ‘no’ to every new program will not deliver the change Delaware needs,” Markell said. “We must use our state spending on programs that will pay off in the future.”

Denn said he and Markell already have track records for improving efficiency in their offices — Markell as state treasurer, Denn as state insurance commissioner.

Shortly after taking office in 2005, Denn withdrew his office’s $274,000 budget request — and has run the office, instead, on the surcharges paid by national insurance companies. This past year, his office gave $1 million to help offset the state’s budget shortfall.

“The toughest part is changing the whole culture of state government from top to bottom,” Denn said, but it will take that kind of effort.

Some proposals made Thursday already had been released by Markell.

Generally, Markell and Denn propose to upgrade the state budgeting process, be aggressive in pursuing federal funds, crack down on waste and fraud, save money with “green” policies, review each state agency every 10 years, improve state purchasing practices, reduce the need for college remediation, pursue policies that promote health, adopt smarter approaches to enforcing tax laws and use technology to reduce costs.

More specifically, Markell said government performance reviews nationally often find savings worth as much as 6 percent of a state’s general fund. He estimated the state could find $68 million in savings with that review alone.

Markell would use “benchmarks” to measure Delaware’s operations against those of other states to see if any costs are out of line. The state’s child-support collections are ranked 48th nationally, for example, collecting $2.40 for every administrative dollar spent, he said. The national average is $4.30, with top efficiencies reaching $8.98.

He would create a state Grants Office — as Maryland did in 2004 — to focus the state’s pursuit of federal funds. He also would allow online renewal of driver’s licenses and expanded telecommuting options for state employees.

Lee saw nothing new in Markell’s grocery list of ideas.

“These are all things that have been talked about and proposed before,” he said. “I have proposed an austerity budget, hoping to avoid the necessity of a tax increase. Jack has proposed expensive new programs, and the savings he proposed today would have minimal impact. … Jack is a salesman and he’s selling inflated promises just as he did at Nextel.”

Copeland said the proposals were not new, but reflect common business practices. They would, however, be a new approach to state government, he said.

“They would definitely be new in the insurance commissioner’s office,” Copeland said. “My whole campaign has been about efficiency and effectiveness, and all of a sudden Matt Denn is talking about efficiency and effectiveness. Obviously, that’s what voters want. They don’t want another big-government guy like Matt Denn. He’s trying to hook himself to Jack Markell, trying to get coverage to hide his big-government ways.”

WDEL 1150 AM, October 2, 2008

In their first appearance as the Democratic ticket for governor and lieutenant governor, Jack Markell and Matt Denn tout their fiscal responsibility.

Surrounded by other Democratic candidates outside the Carvel State Office Building in Wilmington, Markell says he and Denn owe it to taxpayers to find ways to save money.Video Here

Markell says he won’t know how much his budget-balancing plan will save until he takes office, but predicts it will be in excess of 100 million dollars. The plan calls for cracking down on waste and fraud by investing in technologies to detect fraud, smarter enforcement of existing tax laws, and cutting energy consumption.