The Republican candidate vying in the upcoming special election to replace Lt. Governor-elect Bethany Hall-Long in the Delaware state senate is decrying the appointment of former Senate President Pro Tem Patti Blevins as the new director of the Office of Animal Welfare.
John Marino blasted the decision to install the recently-defeated Blevins into the role as an “insider” and “sweetheart deal” exemplifying “why Delaware is so desperate for change.”
“The insiders in state government found a safe landing place for a career politician, like they always do. The Office of Animal Welfare was just recently created, and now the office will be held by a career politician whose only qualification for the job is that she sponsored the bill creating it,” said Marino.
“Everyday Delawareans can see right through this, and know exactly what it is: political insiders taking care of one of their own – again.”
The Marino campaign cited statistics from the Center for Public Integrity saying Delaware is one of the “worst states in the nation” in policing government corruption.
Marino called for his Democrat opponent Stephanie Hansen to join him in demanding the appointment to be rescinded. “This appointment smacks of the worst kind of insider dealing. It is unacceptable.”
No date has yet been set for the special election that will likely happen in February or early March. If Marino wins, Republicans will have a majority in the state senate for the first time in more than a generation.
