Wilmington mayoral candidate ties return of foreign jobs to helping Delaware economy

Scott Spencer kicked off his run for the Wilmington’s Democratic mayoral nomination by tying in a national idea to bring over-seas jobs back to the U.S. as a means to turn around the city’s economy.

Spencer picked an abandoned factory on the eastern part of the city to get behind an idea put forward by President Obama earlier this month to offer tax incentives to American companies who relocate workers here from overseas.

Spencer said if Delaware offered the same incentives it would immediately add 100 jobs to Wilmington and New Castle County. He said an additional 1,000 jobs would be realized by 2020.

Spencer is a transportation consultant who briefly challenged John Carney for the Democratic nomination for Congress in 2010. He joins a crowded field which includes State Rep. Dennis P. Williams, City Councilman Kevin Kelley, Bill Montgomery, Scott Spencer and Rev. Derrick “Pastor D” Johnson. The public will a chance to hear how that group will approach the issues facing Delaware’s largest city when they all appear at a WDEL radio forum on Monday.

Spencer tied the idea of producing jobs as the way to reduce crime. Wilmington has seen its homicide rate hit new highs over the last 2 years. He also praised President Obama saying, “It is time to back him [President Obama] up with an audacity of action.”

Mayor James Baker will complete his third and final term in office this year. The Delaware Democratic primary is September 11th. So, far there is no GOP candidate running for the office.