Flowers sworn in as treasurer

Chip Flowers was sworn in as Delaware’s new state treasurer Tuesday at a ceremony at the Delaware Art Museum in Wilmington.

Flowers says his top priority will be the economy.

“I campaigned on the theme of getting this economy moving and I intend to uphold that commitment,” he said.

Flowers, a Democrat, was elected Nov. 2 by defeating Republican Colin Bonini in a very tight race. Flowers received 51 percent of the vote and edged Bonini by 6,121 votes.

Another goal for the Middletown resident will be refocusing the priorities of the treasurer’s office. He says he will work immediately with the General Assembly to make the office more competitive in the 21st century.

“In other words, modernize it,” he said. “And looking at what we can do differently to make sure that the treasurer’s office is engaged in economic policy.”

Senator Chris Coons was among those to wish the new State Treasurer well.  “These are tough times for our country. Too many American families — too many families right here in Delaware — are struggling to make ends meet. People expect more of their government than ever before, and for good reason. In these difficult economic times, it’s important that our state government manages every tax dollar responsibly. I know Chip will do just that and will be a terrific public servant for Delaware, Coons said.”

Flowers, 36, is the first African-American elected to a statewide office in Delaware.