Why Did Jean Dowding Switch From Democrat To Republican The Day She Filed To Run In The 31st Rep District?

 

For 32 years, Jean Dowding was a registered Democrat.  She filed against incumbent Democrat Sean Lynn in the 31st Rep. District for Delaware in July.  But she did NOT file as a Democrat.  She switched her party to Republican.  While it is certainly any American citizen’s right to switch parties at any time, I do find it a bit suspect she would do so the same day she filed to run against a very liberal candidate.

For the record, I fully endorse Sean Lynn for this seat.  He has done an excellent job for his district as well as the State of Delaware.  He has been a staunch supporter for public education.  He introduced legislation designed for more government transparency and fought valiantly for elimination of the death penalty in Delaware.  We need more Sean Lynn and not someone who doesn’t seem to know what party they should be affiliated with unless it is for the sole purpose of running for office.  Is she a Democrat or a Republican?  32 years is a long time to register under one party.  Why wouldn’t she have attempted to run in the primary against Lynn?

While Dowding has a ton of experience under her belt and she deserves kudos for her service to our country, in reviewing her responses in the Delaware State News, her responses were very wishy-washy.  Many of her answers had the “I’ll have to take a look at that”.  Voters don’t want to hear that.  They want someone who is committed to the issues, not someone who doesn’t really know what those issues are.  Sean Lynn knows the issues that Delaware faces and can see past the status quo.  Jean Dowding does not have enough information to lead her district much less make the decisions needed based on having all the facts.  It is that simple.

For those who may think Dowding could have switched parties at some point during the past 32 years and not the day she filed, voter registration websites state otherwise:

Christina Paying Vendor To Research School Start Times. District Could Do This For Free With A Google Search…

In the world of education, someone is always willing to make a buck. In the Christina School District, Hanover Research is the latest vendor to say cha-ching when the district gets an idea.

On Thursday, the district released a press release announcing they are looking into changing the start time for their schools. In Delaware, Superintendents and district administrators get paid a ton of money. Why are we paying outside vendors to do the work they should obviously be doing themselves? It is just cash in the trash!  This is a district facing mold issues and a charter school lawsuit on top of dwindling funds and resources.  Their board passed a resolution for the district to look at this topic, but that doesn’t translate to pay someone else to do it.  We all know their vendor is going to do the same thing anyone else could do: a Google search.  And then they will come up with a very pretty report.  I know Acting Superintendent Bob Andrzejewski has his eye on the Delaware Secretary of Education slot, but is this the kind of continuing crap we could expect from his “ascendancy”: more meaningless contracts and vendors?  Here is the press release:

Christina Explores Changing School Start Times
Impact of early/late start times on student learning will be considered

Wilmington, DE – The Christina School District is exploring the issue of school start times and their impact on student learning, with a goal of determining if changing start times in its secondary schools could increase student achievement. The main focus is on middle and high school students and the impact of early morning start times on adolescents’ learning. The Christina Board of Education passed a resolution in May calling for the Superintendent to identify and provide a list of practices in school systems that start middle and/or high school after 8:00 a.m. Christina middle and high school students currently start school at 7:05 a.m.

The District will be working with research firm Hanover Research to determine how school districts who have adjusted their start times have dealt with issues such as communication, scheduling, transportation, sports, and after-school activities. The District is also engaging staff, parents, students, and the community through an online survey asking for feedback on how school start times may affect student success.

The Christina School District School Start Times Survey is available at the following link: http://www.surveygizmo.com/s3/ 3063051/e2158fc28598

The survey will be live until the end of November, and additional research and analysis will be gathered in the coming weeks.

Wendy Lapham, Public Information Officer
Christina School District

600 N. Lombard St.

Wilmington, DE 19801