Delaware GOP announces its choices for Governor and Lt. Governor

Standing in front of a yellow sign with the number 30,611, Delaware’s state Republican party announced who they would like to see run against Gov. Jack Markell and Lt. Gov. Matt Denn in November.

“Elections are about choices,” said the GOP candidate for the top of the ticket, Jeff Cragg. He is a businessman and former New Castle County party chairman.

He said the campaign is about finding jobs and dealing with the number of unemployed in the state. “Delaware needs jobs and that’s what our campaign will address.” He added those jobs will be showcased as a Republican solution to dealing with unemployment.

Cragg drew a contrast between a small business he visited at his first stop in Sussex County and the Fisker plant, which the Markell administration has supported as a way to reuse the former GM factory on Boxwood Road.

“The employees of Glass Doctors (in Lincoln) and other small businesses provided $19 million to Fisker Motors for an assembly plant they may never use,” he said. Cragg added he wants Fisker to build in Delaware, but faulted the Markell administration’s approach.

Sher Valenzuela is co-owns First State Manufacturing in Milford. She appeared alongside Cragg in front of Legislative Hall in Dover. She echoed Cragg’s pitch that making it easier for small businesses is the best way to turn around the economy. She praised some of initiatives by New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie’s administration as the best approach to take in the First State. “The folks in our neighboring state New Jersey have it right. They know how to enable businesses.”

The candidates wrapped up their day with an evening stop in Elsmere.