Delaware State News
DOVER — Residents who want to show their hometown pride in Delaware Sen. Joseph R. Biden Jr. in the upcoming election need only cast a ballot for Democratic running mate Sen. Barack Obama for president.
However, a vote for Republican gubernatorial candidate William Swain Lee is not a vote for lieutenant governor candidate Sen. Charles L. Copeland, R-Wilmington.
Likewise, voting for Democratic state Treasurer Jack A. Markell for governor does not ensure a victory for Democratic lieutenant governor candidate and Insurance Commissioner Matthew P. Denn.
Though the candidates often run as a ticket, Delaware, like 17 other states, elects its governors and lieutenant governors separately, which has led to several instances where the top two First State elected officials have been from different political parties.
In those situations, have the officials gotten along, or are they at loggerheads?
Dover real estate agent James D. McGinnis won the lieutenant governor’s race in 1976, a Democrat coming into office with Republican governor Pierre S. "Pete" du Pont IV during an economic crisis, which he said brought the two together.
"At first, it was strained; then, it began to grow into a good relationship that lasts until today," Mr. McGinnis said. "… After the first six or seven months, we stopped being afraid of each other, the old case of Republicans don’t trust Democrats and Democrats don’t trust Republicans.
"I was the standard-bearer for the party, but instead of being an agitator, I thought it would be better if we worked together."
Mr. McGinnis said his willingness to work with a Republican governor and endorse some of his ideas upset Democratic Party regulars, but he said his focus was on getting the state out of its economic doldrums.
The lieutenant governor’s role changes when he or she is from a different political party from the governor, said retired University of Delaware political science professor Dr. James R. Soles.
"In some instances, it holds the governor’s feet to the fire," Dr. Soles said. "They can’t leave their position for a post in a (presidential) administration.
"The lieutenant governor is a role where you can find things to do. It is a bully pulpit (from which) you can go around the state pushing for things you think should be done."
But a lieutenant governor needs to pick their spots if they choose to go against a governor of a different party because the chief executive has "infinitely" more resources at their disposal, Dr. Soles said.
Although he served as a Democratic lieutenant governor from 1981-85 under Republican governor Michael N. Castle, S.B. Woo said he put politics aside when he was elected to office.
"A lot of people think that electing people of different parties provides a check and balance, but that’s not true," Dr. Woo said. "The lieutenant governor doesn’t have the power to check and balance the governor.
"To get more bang for the buck, people should elect a governor and lieutenant governor of the same party."
A retired University of Delaware physics professor, Dr. Woo said Rep. Castle, now the state’s lone congressman, was supportive of some of his ideas, but noted that he wasn’t invited to cabinet meetings and wasn’t consulted on legislative proposals.
Although he felt he accomplished some things during his term, Dr. Woo said being from a different party played into his decision to not run for re-election in 1984 and instead ran unsuccessfully for U.S. Senate against Republican incumbent William V. Roth Jr. in 1988.
"If I felt I had more to do as lieutenant governor, I would have been inclined to run again," Dr. Woo said.
Both lieutenant governor candidates said they could work with a governor of a different party, and each has his own, independent agenda.
Sen. Copeland disagreed with Dr. Woo that being from a different party doesn’t provide a check and balance in government.
"The lieutenant governor ought to have the backbone to stand up when he feels the governor is wrong," Sen. Copeland said.
"One of the things that have contributed to the state’s problems is that other independently elected members of the executive branch kept their mouths shut while the state crashed."
While Sen. Copeland has held several joint press conferences with Mr. Lee during the campaign, he said he is running to be "Delaware’s lieutenant governor" and not as a subordinate on a ticket, which he alleged Mr. Denn is doing in his campaign.
The senator said he teams up with GOP gubernatorial candidate Mr. Lee when they agree on issues, but he also has held his own events on different issues.
He added that he would work well with a Democratic governor like Mr. Markell because both have a business background and understand what needs to be done to fix Delaware’s economy.
Mr. Denn refuted Sen. Copeland’s claims, noting that he was running for lieutenant governor long before the gubernatorial primary last month determined who the Democratic candidate would be.
Sen. Copeland stepped up to run for lieutenant governor in May at the same time the Republican Party drafted Mr. Lee.
"What I’m doing now is both running on a ticket with Jack and independently for the office," said Mr. Denn, who has held a couple of joint appearances with Mr. Markell. "There are certain issues I’ve chosen to highlight in my campaign, those affecting children."
Mr. Denn said if he were to serve with a Republican governor, he would continue to put forth his ideas and try to pursue those goals, though pushing an agenda would be more difficult in that situation.
"It still is possible to accomplish positive things," he said. "Ultimately, everyone wants what’s best for the state."
