Contrary to the letter from Bill Wong in your June 11 edition, many of us in the 14th believe that Representative Peter Schwartzkopf has been providing the effective and compassionate leadership which has been missing from the State for many years.

On many issues Representative Pete Schwartzkopf has moved the State forward. As an example, I cite HB 1. For years many legislators and residents of the 14th District have been looking for more transparency in government. Rep. Schwartzkopf introduced HB 1, shepherded it through the legislature and got it passed. It may not be perfect, but it is a major step in opening up government.

Representative Schwartzkopf has taken the lead in protecting residents of manufactured homes who are often being charged outrageous rents and have few protections.

He has also moved the non-discrimination legislation to its furthest point ever, to the brink of passage. It is another bill which has been stalled in the State Legislature for many years. Without Pete taking the lead, we believe it would not have gotten as far as it has.

Representative Schwartzkopf has taken leadership roles in making sure that legislation protecting our environment takes effect, whether through wind farms, protection of ground water etc.

Mr. Wong may not believe that the issues Pete has worked on are important issues, but to say he lacks leadership quality is totally off the mark. I am proud of my association with Pete Schwartzkopf, recognize and appreciate his leadership qualities, and feel that the 14th District and the State have benefited from his work.

Peter Schott

Chair, 14th District Democratic Committee

Pete Schwartzkopf is a lose-lose kind of Representative. Residents of the 14th District lose because our Representative has allowed the Governor to usurp our voice in Legislative Hall. Sussex County loses because when Schwartzkopf finally does decide to wield his power, he invariably leads us down the wrong path. Representative Schwartzkopf is reliably liberal, which may or may not be to your liking, but he is not reliably a leader.

Schwartzkopf is not taking the lead in our current budget crisis. When asked in a radio interview where the state could cut spending, he trumpeted the spending cuts proffered by Governor Markell without naming a single initiative of his own. In fact, Representative Schwartzkopf has said that, "part of [his] job is to carry the water for the Governor." We in the 14th didn’t send Schwartzkopf to Dover to be a water boy. We sent him to be our voice and our advocate in the legislature. If his leadership position in the House means that he has to put the Governor’s agenda ahead of his work for his District, then he should step down.

One of these water carrying adventures was the expansion of gaming and sports betting. Schwartzkopf took the lead on this bill that was wildly unpopular in Sussex. The only consolation many of us took from all this was that at least the Del Pointe complex would bring some much needed jobs to Sussex. Unfortunately, Pete Schwartzkopf delivered the Governor’s big government revenue generator, and none of the promised jobs. Instead, he is spending more of our money to commission a study that he "hopes" will find that Sussex County would be a great place for a new casino, but that could just as easily find that the Riverfront in Wilmington is best suited. All of us in Sussex have learned a valuable lesson: Don’t bet on Pete Schwartzkopf.

The latest road he seems eager to lead us down is one that leads to a sales tax. A sales tax would kick the legs out from under our already shaky state economy, and disproportionately burden seniors and low-income families. Sussex County already has the highest unemployment rate in the state. With so many jobs in the beach area tied to the service economy, the inevitable fall in retail sales and tourism will only exacerbate the problem. This near-sighted revenue grab would cost us dearly.

Delaware is at a crossroads. We can make the tough cuts now, or we can hope the easy money materializes. No doubt, the best solution will be a combination of spending cuts and revenue generation. Unfortunately, the House majority leader seems not to have any of his own ideas, and throws his political weight behind the worst of other people’s ideas. Now is the time for real leaders to step forward and lead. Now is not the time to try to serve two masters. Either Representative Schwartzkopf serves the interests of the 14th District, or he does the bidding of Governor Markell. We anxiously await his answer. Six years and the current budget problems have shown us two different Representative Schwartzkopfs. I’m not sure which is worse for Delaware; the Pete Schwartzkopf who doesn’t lead, or the one who does?

Bill Wong