Term limits. We hear these words so often but the ones to decide would be the ones that would lose out the most from them. Some call them politicians or legislators. But they are the Delaware General Assembly. How long have these folks been making laws in Dover? Some of them are lifers. Some are relatively new (past ten years). Should we have term limits in Dover? If so, how long should they be? Since the Senate serves four years how many terms are too many? The House has a two-year election cycle. How many terms should they get? Or do you think the people vote for a reason and term limits don’t bother you? Take the poll and see how long some of these cats have prowled the halls! I put the ones first voted into office last century in bold.
Senate
1st Harris McDowell, Democrat, first elected to Senate in 1976
2nd Margaret Rose Henry, Democrat, first elected to Senate in 1994 as a Republican, switched to Democrat during her first term, Senate Majority Leader for Senate (retiring)
3rd Robert Marshall, Democrat, first elected to Senate in 1978
4th Greg Lavelle, Republican, first elected to Senate in 2012, was in House from 2001-2012, Minority Whip for Senate
5th Cathy Cloutier, Republican, first elected to Senate in 2000, was in House from 1999-2000
6th Ernie Lopez, Republican, first elected to Senate in 2012
7th Anthony DelCollo, Republican, first elected to Senate in 2016
8th David Sokola, Democrat, first elected to Senate in 1990, ran against current State Rep. Mike Ramone in 2002 and 2006, ran against former Charter School of Wilmington Head of School Ron Russo in 1992
9th John Walsh, Democrat, elected to Senate in 2016
10th Stephanie Hansen, Democrat, elected in Special Election in 2017
11th Bryan Townsend, Democrat, first elected to Senate in 2012, ran for U.S. Representative in 2016 but lost in Primary to Lisa Blunt Rochester
12th Nicole Poore, Democrat, first elected to Senate in 2012, Senate Majority Whip
13th David McBride, Democrat, first elected to Senate in 1980, was in House from 1979-1980, President Pro Tempore of Delaware Senate
14th Bruce Ennis, Democrat, first elected to Senate in 2007 in Special Election, was in House from 1983-2007
15th David Lawson, Republican, first elected to Senate in 2010
16th Colin Bonini, Republican, first elected to Senate in 1994, ran for State Treasurer in 2010 and lost, ran for Governor in 2016 and lost
17th Brian Bushweller, Democrat, first elected to Senate in 2008 (retiring)
18th F. Gary Simpson, Republican, first elected to Senate in 1998 , Senate Minority Leader (retiring)
19th Brian Pettyjohn, Republican, first elected to Senate in 2012
20th Gerald Hocker, Republican, first elected to Senate in 2012, was in House from 2003-2012, ran for Senate in 2000 but lost
21th Bryant Richardson, Republican, first elected to Senate in 2014
House
1st Charles Potter, Democrat, first elected to House in 2012, ran for 1st Senate District in 2006 but lost
2nd Stephanie Bolden, Democrat, first elected to House in 2010
3rd Helene Keeley, Democrat, first elected to House in 2002, Speaker Pro Tempore
4th Gerald Brady, Democrat, first elected to House in 2006
5th Melanie George Smith, Democrat, first elected to House in 2002 (retiring)
6th Debra Heffernan, Democrat, first elected to House in 2010
7th Bryon Short, Democrat, first elected to House in 2006 (retiring)
8th Quinton Johnson, Democrat, first elected to House in 2008
9th Kevin Hensley, Republican, first elected to House in 2014
10th Sean Matthews, Democrat, first elected to House in 2014
11th Jeff Spiegelman, Republican, first elected to House in 2012
12th Deb Hudson, Republican, first elected to House in 1994, House Minority Whip
13th John Mitchell, Democrat, first elected to House in 2006
14th Pete Schwartzkopf, Democrat, first elected to House in 2002, became Speaker of the House in 2013
15th Valerie Longhurst, Democrat, first elected to House in 2004, became Majority Leader in 2013
16th J.J. Johnson, Democrat, first elected to House in 2004, former State Board of Education member Gregory Coverdale ran against him in 2014 but lost (retiring)
17th Michael Mulrooney, Democrat, first elected to House in 1998
18th David Bentz, Democrat, first elected to House in Special Election in 2015
19th Kim Williams, Democrat, first elected to House in 2012
20th Stephen Smyk, Republican, first elected to House in 2012
21st Mike Ramone, Republican, first elected to House in 2008
22nd Joe Miro, Republican, first elected to House in 1998 (retiring)
23rd Paul Baumbach, Democrat, first elected to House in 2012
24th Ed Osienski, Democrat, first elected to House in 2010
25th John Kowalko, Democrat, first elected to House in 2006, ran for seat in 2004 but lost
26th John Viola, Democrat, first elected to House in 1998, Majority Whip for House
27th Earl Jaques, Democrat, first elected to House in 2008, ran for seat in 2006 but lost
28th William Carson, Democrat, first elected to House in 2008
29th Trey Paradee, Democrat, first elected to House in 2012, ran for seat in 2008 but lost, is running for Delaware Senate District 17
30th William Outten, Republican, first elected to House in 2004
31st Sean Lynn, Democrat, first elected to House in 2014
32nd Andria Bennett, Democrat, first elected to House in 2012
33rd Charles Postles, Republican, first elected to House in 2016
34th Lyndon Yearick, Republican, first elected to House in 2014
35th David Wilson, Republican, first elected to House in 2008, running for Delaware Senate District 18
36th Harvey Kenton, Republican, first elected to House in 2010 (retiring)
37th Ruth Briggs King, Republican, first elected to House in Special Election in 2009, ran in 2000 but lost
38th Ronald Gray, Republican, first elected to House in 2012
39th Daniel Short, Republican, first elected to House in 2006, ran for seat in 2004 but lost, House Minority Leader since 2013
40th Timothy Dukes, Republican, first elected to House in 2012
41st Richard Collins, Republican, first elected to House in 2014, ran for seat in 2012 but lost
