I was asked recently if the problems with the local shelter and animal control officers is my whole platform. It would be silly to say I didn't get involved in politics because of this issue. But what triggered my decision to run was the fact that so many of our elected officials refused to respond to anyone in our group about the materials delivered to them in January 2012. In March I contacted MY elected officials via e-mail. One responded right away. One took a little longer. And one - my opponent - NEVER responded. One hand-delivered package and 6 e-mails (to him specifically and as part of a group) between January and June 1. I never heard from him. Now, I realize that our elected officials have a lot of demands on their time - but in 6 months there was never time to get back to me? Until the 9/12 Patriots Meet the Candidates night on September 4th. THEN he wanted me to sit down and talk about the animal control officers.
(Before you think I am "cutting off my nose to spite my face" - bear in mind that all of the information I have collated and notated has been given to Representative Lincoln Willis.)
But back to platform - during this time, I discovered that some of our State senators choose not to vote on the issues before them. They are not home with a fever, no stated conflict of interest, they get to say "not voting" when roll is called. In fact, 6 of them chose not to vote on the sheriff's issue (yes, my opponent - a former DE State Police Officer, was one of them). These senators are elected to be our voice in the General Assembly. Yea or Nay. No matter how difficult the issue may be. If they don't vote, their constituents have no voice.
And I found that I am not happy with how our State - and our legislators - do NOT keep us informed of the bills they are voting on. To say it is available on the State website is easy - and the lazy way out. Not everyone is prepared to read pages of legislation on line. In fact, not everyone spends time on the internet. How hard would it be to publish in the newspaper a summary of each bill being considered? If the State won't do it, how about the legislators themselves? I have to wonder - do ANY of them solicit input from their constituents on the legislation they are voting into law?
So - responsiveness to constituents, voting on all the issues and outreach to inform the public on legislation. Those are my campaign, or platform, issues. Add to that Independent Party of Delaware concerns (term limits, an Inspector General's Office, initiative, referendum and recall), and I can honestly say, NO, the animal control officer issues are NOT my whole platform. Amending the various laws to better define dog control, animal control and the authority of the animal control officers is a GOAL that I can and will pursue whether I am elected or not.
