The Delaware House of Representatives consists of 41 members, each of whom is elected to a two-year term. There is no limit to the number of terms that a Representative may serve. All revenue generating legislation must begin in the House. State representatives introduce and vote on proposed legislation, approve the annual budget for the state, and serve on assigned committees. The General Assembly of Delaware meets in Dover three days a week between mid-January and the end of June. The Speaker of the House is the presiding officer of the House. The Speaker is elected to the position by a majority of the representatives to run the mechanics of the House, including appointing committees and their members and assigning legislation to committee.
Salary: $51,692/year
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Party: Democrat
Education: Widener School of Law
Community Involvement: Caesar Rodney school board, Delaware Technical Community College Trustee, Greater Dover Boys and Girls Club board member, Modern Maturity Center board, Delaware Emergency Medical Services Oversight Council
Campaign Email: bush29th@gmail.com
Campaign Phone: (302) 670-2949
Campaign Website: bush29th.com/
Work Experience: Former Policy Advisor for Department of Safety and Homeland Security; Current State Representative
Campaign Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/search/top?q=william%20bush%20for%2029th%20district%20state%20representative
Neighborhood/area of residence: Wild Quail, Delaware
Q: What are the most important challenges facing our state, and how do you propose to address them?
A: Healthcare access is one of the biggest issues facing Kent county, especially equal access. I have worked with my colleagues in the General Assembly to bring more healthcare workers to Kent county by increasing loan forgiveness for doctors and nurses and increasing slots in our physician training program. I have worked to increase fairness in health care delivery by requiring insurance to cover screenings for breast, prostate, and ovarian cancers so that we can catch these terrible diseases earlier. In the General Assembly I will work to bring down the price of prescription drugs and help break down the barriers that prevent our citizens from accessing safe and affordable generic alternatives.
Q: Homelessness in Delaware more than doubled in 2022. What legislation would you propose to reduce the number of unhoused in Delaware?
A: I was proud to support legislation introduced at the end of the 2024 session that made someone’s housing status, such as homelessness, a protected class in employment and fair housing law. But is addressing a symptom, not the cause of our problem. I believe we need to build more affordable housing and I look forward to seeing the results of the affordable housing production taskforce that is taking place this fall. A report from DSHA showed we were building thousands less units than we need each year. We need to find ways to build more units and I will support the task force’s findings and help enact their recommendations.
Q: What role should the government play with regard to a woman’s reproductive choices?
A: Government should protect a women’s right to make her own reproductive choices. I have been proud to support legislation codifying roe v wade in Delaware and protecting doctors and nurses that work in reproductive health from other State’s reactionary policies. I will continue doing everything in my power to protect a women’s right to make her own healthcare decisions free from government interference.
Q: We have all read about communities where residents have had to boil water before using it to drink. Are there specific policies you’d support to avoid this from happening in Delaware?
A: As a member of the Capital Infrastructure Committee I have been proud to help secure millions in State and Federal dollars to support our Clean Water Trust fund that was established in 2021. This fund has already been used to improve wells in Middletown, remove PFAs contaminants in New Castle county, and replace septic systems in Kent and Sussex county. I will continue to support this fund that has already improved water quality in areas that had boil water advisories. By continuing State support and leveraging Federal dollars we can make it so no one in Delaware has to worry if their water is safe when they turn the tap on.
Q: Some states have passed innovative laws that open access to healthcare, housing, and financial services for immigrants. Would you support these measures in Delaware? (Yes or No). Please explain.
A: Yes I believe that we need to support all the residents of our State with services they need to succeed.
Q: How likely are you to support gun legislation such as safe storage or banning assault weapons?
A: Strongly support
Q: Do you agree or disagree with this statement: “Mail-in ballots cause voter fraud.”
A: Strongly disagree
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Party: Democrat
Education: Master’s Degree (Administration of Justice), University of Louisville; BA, Savannah State University
Community Involvement: James H. Gilliam, Sr. Fellow, Wilmington Metropolitan Urban League; Kent County Committee Chair, National Urban League; The Links, Incorporated; Zeta Phi Beta Sorority
Campaign Email: info@monicashockleyporter.com
Campaign Website: www.monicashockleyporter.com/
Work Experience: Public relations professional managing in the education, healthcare, and nonprofit fields
Campaign Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/monicafor29th
Neighborhood/area of residence: Clayton
Q: What are the most important challenges facing our state, and how do you propose to address them?
A: As a community we face significant challenges in our public health system. As someone who has spent years in the healthcare field, I’ve witnessed firsthand the struggles that families face in finding and affording services. That’s why I support the creation of a Medicaid Buy-In option. I am committed to increasing the availability of both inpatient and outpatient options for substance abuse treatment. We must make life-saving drugs like Narcan more accessible and expand treatment options that address the root causes of addiction. Comprehensive mental health services are crucial, including funding, stigma reduction, and resource expansion in schools and workplaces. We need a justice-centered approach to address these issues, ensuring equity.
Q: Homelessness in Delaware more than doubled in 2022. What legislation would you propose to reduce the number of unhoused in Delaware?
A: Safe and affordable housing is a basic human right. Addressing houselessness in Delaware requires a multifaceted approach that tackles both the immediate needs of those experiencing houselessness and the systemic inequities that have led us here. To address this growing crisis, I fight for: -Expanding Affordable Housing -Strengthening Rental Assistance Programs -Supportive Housing Initiatives -Stronger Tenant Protections -Job Training and Employment Programs Addressing these issues comprehensively will help ensure that housing will be accessible and attainable to all Delawareans.
Q: What role should the government play with regard to a woman’s reproductive choices?
A: The government should protect and expand individual’s reproductive choices, ensuring access to safe abortion and comprehensive healthcare. This includes providing universal coverage for contraception, prenatal care, and childbirth. Embracing reproductive justice means addressing systemic inequalities that affect marginalized groups and supporting policies like paid family leave, affordable childcare, and comprehensive health education. The role is to ensure privacy, autonomy, and support for women’s reproductive decisions, creating conditions where everyone can exercise their rights freely and safely.
Q: We have all read about communities where residents have had to boil water before using it to drink. Are there specific policies you’d support to avoid this from happening in Delaware?
A: Access to clean, safe drinking water is essential, and no community in Delaware should ever have to worry about the safety of their water supply. Unfortunately, the reality is that aging infrastructure, environmental contamination, and inadequate investment in water systems have led to crises in communities across the country. -Investing in Resilient Water Infrastructure -Strengthening Environmental Protections -Community-Led Resilience Planning
Q: Some states have passed innovative laws that open access to healthcare, housing, and financial services for immigrants. Would you support these measures in Delaware? (Yes or No). Please explain.
A: Yes. I firmly believe that everyone, regardless of their immigration status, deserves access to essential services like healthcare, housing, and financial support. In Delaware, we have an opportunity to lead by example and create a more inclusive, equitable state. By passing laws that ensure immigrants have access to healthcare, housing, and financial services, we can strengthen our communities and ensure that all of us have the opportunity to thrive.
Q: How likely are you to support gun legislation such as safe storage or banning assault weapons?
A: Strongly support
Q: Do you agree or disagree with this statement: “Mail-in ballots cause voter fraud.”
A: Strongly disagree
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Party: Democrat
Ade Adewunmi Kuforiji did not respond to questionnaire.
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Party: Democrat
Additional Information: I live in Wyoming with my wife, Dr. Christie Miller, and our two daughters, McKelden, who just graduated from CR and is heading to The University of Delaware Honors program in the fall. Zella is currently attending CR as an incoming senior. Additionally, we share our home with our three fur babies.
Community Involvement: Hello, my name is Tracey Miller. I have served as an Honorary Commander at the Dover Air Force Base, a Committee Member for the PAC (Metropolitan Planning Organizations Public Action Committee), a City Counselor Chair of the Ways and Means Committee, Chair of the Capital Finance Committee, as well as a board member on the Kent County Board of Assessment Review. My career speaks volumes about my dedication to serving all community members. I work full-time for Forward Journey Adult Day Services as the Director of Development.
Campaign Website: Miller4delaware.com
Education: BS Degree Social Science
Campaign Phone: (302) 387-3575
Campaign Email: Info@miller4delaware.com
Campaign Facebook Page: facebook.com/profile.php?id=61550523647889&mibextid=ZbWKwL
Work Experience: Director of Development for a Non-Profit in Delaware, Director of Community Engagement and Marketing
Neighborhood/area of residence: Camden/Wyoming/Woodside/Magnolia
Q: What are the most important challenges facing our state, and how do you propose to address them?
A: EQUITY in EDUCATION One of my top priorities is working to revamp an antiquated unit-based system. I am committed to improving school systems, supporting educators, and advocating teacher retention and recruitment. HEALTHCARE I will advocate for affordable and comprehensive healthcare options, ensuring everyone receives the care they need without facing exorbitant costs. AFFORDABLE WORKFORCE HOUSING I will prioritize building affordable workforce housing to support the local workers. We have a severe housing shortage for folks who are the backbone of our community. That includes teachers, police officers, firefighters, those who check you out at the local Redners, etc. We must support the taxpayers who support us.
Q: Homelessness in Delaware more than doubled in 2022. What legislation would you propose to reduce the number of unhoused in Delaware?
A: We must utilize Grant in Aid to support Non-Profit organizations in their effort to help the homeless. They usually have a better focus on the specific plight to help the homeless. Unfortunately, a large portion of our homeless are veterans. We must work closer with state and federal organizations that support veteran homelessness. It must be a organized and central operation of the state to take care of these veterans. I would work across the aisle to offer legislation to add an office to Health and Human Services to combat homelessness specifically. Working together with public private partnerships to come up with a 5 year strategic plan to combat homelessness. This plan would include goals to reduce the unhoused per year.
Q: What role should the government play with regard to a woman’s reproductive choices?
A: The only role government should play in women’s reproductive healthcare is to protect them in their choice.
Q: We have all read about communities where residents have had to boil water before using it to drink. Are there specific policies you’d support to avoid this from happening in Delaware?
A: Those policies would include making sure our infrastructure system is updated to be able to handle the needs of each location. Most areas have antiquated water and sewer systems that need to be addressed. Of course, that can’t all be done at one time. But we do need to have a system in place that systematically replaces those pipes on a timely basis. That is a costly and time sensitive matter that needs to be addressed on a yearly basis by towns and cities alike. The state government’s responsibility is to support those cities and towns in their effort to sustain their infrastructure.
Q: Some states have passed innovative laws that open access to healthcare, housing, and financial services for immigrants. Would you support these measures in Delaware? (Yes or No). Please explain.
A: Yes, but it must be done in an orderly fashion with the help of Health and Human Services and the Federal government. Unless there is financial support from the federal government the strain on the state government will just be too much to maintain. In Delaware we rely heavily on the immigrant population for our chicken plants and our farms. We must be transparent about that need. Those immigrants who work so hard to support the economy of the state must be taken care of. We must stop pretending immigrants don’t have a place in our state.
Q: How likely are you to support gun legislation such as safe storage or banning assault weapons?
A: Support
Q: Do you agree or disagree with this statement: “Mail-in ballots cause voter fraud.”
A: Disagree
The Delaware Journalism Collaborative is a project of the Local Journalism Initiative.
