Democrats have dominated the landscape of New Castle County politics over the last two decades. Each of the last three county executives have been Democrats, and today, 11 of 13 council members hail from the party. Last Sunday, the Community News reported that the Republican Party is renewing its efforts to make inroads here starting with the 2010 elections. This week, we sat down with NCCo Democratic Party Chairman Erik Schramm about how his party plans to meet that GOP challenge.
Q The GOP recently released a revamped platform and is dedicated to being competitive in county races in 2010. How do you as a party respond to that challenge?
A What we've realized, especially at the county level over the last three or four cycles, is that our message and our strategy has worked. It's worked in terms of getting our candidates elected, but then we deliver on campaign promises and make them action items in the off years.
Q What do GOP gains in three General Assembly special elections this year signal to your party?
A Elections are going to be tough next year. It's a mid-term election. There's going to be a lot on the line in terms of the economy, both locally and nationally. You hope that we can deliver and I think you'll start to see the tide break in that direction. Last week was a good example that when Democrats work together, we win. From the VP's office all the way down to the county level with [County Executive] Chris Coons working to make sure we could secure the Fisker Automotive deal.
But when you have a big top of the ticket item that's attractive to voters like we have with the senate and house races, it's usually a good thing for Democrats. In the off years, we don't always have that, but this year I think those races will definitely help us.
Q What have you been doing to prepare for 2010?
A We use the off year to committee build. We hold regional committee meetings where we invite people out who might have gotten involved in the political cycle before: people who might have been involved in the Clinton campaign or the Obama campaign, but haven't typically been engaged in the local party.
Q What has been the focus of the Democratic Party platform at the county level?
A Definitely the fiscal responsibility piece. Unfortunately, Democrats have been labeled as the tax and spend party over the years, but when things were looking good with the economy there were tax cuts. Now the message we've been laying out with the county council folks has been, okay, now it's time to get the house in order. Last year, unfortunately, the county executive had to have the [25 percent] property tax increase, a last resort after they stripped county government to the bare bones.
Q How do you shed the tax and spend image? People see the number 25 percent, but how do you get them to see what else is going on?
A A lot of officials have been having town hall meetings to say, ‘here are the items we've stripped from the budget,’ and I think it's interesting because a lot of folks have gone into those meetings pretty charged up...but when they leave there, it seems like more people finally get it. We need to do more to get that message out there and that's why last year Chris Coons did a listening tour through each of the council districts talking to voters and hearing what their suggestions were and what services were important to them.
Q At the county council level, you largely have incumbents who will be running for re-election. Where is your focus right now – protecting those seats or trying to take the two Republican districts that are in play this year?
A Our focus is at all levels. It's all about pooling resources from the bottom up and in each of those areas identifying the person that can best do the job. This year earlier than ever, we have people coming forward [in those Republican districts] that want to run. In the past we've had to search a little harder and try to convince people, but I think with what happened last year, people are more excited about running.
