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: Republican
Campaign Email: anthony.egipciaco@gmail.com
Campaign Website: vote4anthonye.com
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Party: Democrat
Community Involvement: Boards: First State Abortion Fund; Delaware Center for Justice; Methodist Action Program; Commissioner – State Human Relations Commission
Campaign Email: info@kerrifordelaware.com
Work Experience: Program Advisor for Namati USEJ Program; Executive Director – Delaware Alliance for Community Advancement; Youth Services Director – Metropolitan Wilmington Urban League; Auto Body Mechanic – Dover Dealership; Customer Service – Royal Farms; United States Air Force – Loadmaster and Manpower Specialist; Director of Teen Services – Anaheim Boys & Girls Club
Campaign Website: www.kerrifordelaware.com
Neighborhood/area of residence: Magnolia
Education: A.S. in Business, Howard Community College
Campaign Phone: (302) 592-7659
Campaign Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/KerriEvelynHarris
Additional Information: Mother of 3; OEF/OIF Veteran; Daughter and sibling of retired and active educators
Q: What are the most important challenges facing our state, and how do you propose to address them?
A: Housing and healthcare costs are becoming insurmountable burdens for Delawareans. When you couple these with the rising cost to meet basic needs such as food and utilities, you experience exasperated negative outcomes in our communities. We need to work with renters and land owners to figure our way to housing costs that are affordable to Delawareans. We need to work with providers, insurance companies, and pharmaceutical companies to bring down healthcare costs and create true access for patients, all while making sure hospitals can remain open and attract specialists. We need to increase economic opportunities so we have family sustaining jobs. For me specifics please feel free to reach out for a meeting with, Rep. Kerri Evelyn Harris.
Q: Homelessness in Delaware more than doubled in 2022. What legislation would you propose to reduce the number of unhoused in Delaware?
A: The reality is if we don’t adjust for skyrocketing housing costs we will see even more people without stable or permanent housing. We must take steps to create an economy and housing market that is Delaware based and not region based. Regional markets have upset the standard of living for Delawareans so we must work with Delawareans to create solutions that serve Delawareans.
Q: What role should the government play with regard to a woman’s reproductive choices?
A: The state government must be a protective entity for the people of Delaware. The General Assembly has already codified protections into the state code that are similar those that were provided by Roe v Wade. The General Assembly has also passed laws to assist with reproductive health decisions such as IVF protections as well as early mammogram and ovarian cancer screenings. As there is volatility at the federal level and anti-choice legislators and candidates, it is important for voters who value women’s rights to keep like-minded legislators in office. I have helped to pass reproductive legislation and commit to doing so in the future.
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: There are still communities in Delaware that are suffering from substandard or unhealthy water issues, as a state we need to increase actions to eliminate such occurrences. I will support legislation that increases grants to families to get reverse osmosis systems for their homes, provides funding for cleaning water supplies and updating of water provider systems, and working to reduce/eliminating pollution coming from individuals and entities.
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: As a state legislator, I am charged with prioritizing the needs of Delaware citizens first. With that being said, to be a citizen of this nation, unless we are 100% indigenous, means that we are descendants from immigrants at some point in our ancestry so, as a result, we must be careful about demonizing immigration as a whole. However, it is incumbent upon Congress (federal level government) to clarify citizenship pathways to avoid putting stress on states.
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: Republican
Community Involvement: PTO President, Involved in numerous special needs organizations throughout Delaware, including the Special Olympics, the Down Syndrome Association of Delaware, and Embrace. My family and I are members of Wyoming United Methodist Church in Dover.
Campaign Email: amyfordelaware@gmail.com
Campaign Website: www.amyfordelaware.com
Neighborhood/area of residence: Dover, DE
Campaign Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/amyfordelaware
Additional Information: I am a proud wife, mother, educational advocate, and community leader running to Represent Delaware’s 32nd House District. As the mother of two daughters, one of whom has Down Syndrome, I am acutely aware of the issues facing Delaware families. We need leaders in Dover who can push partisanship aside and work together to bring balance back to our state and begin addressing the issues that matter to our community.
Q: What are the most important challenges facing our state, and how do you propose to address them?
A: The most important challenge facing Delaware is the quality of education our children are receiving. Despite having some of the highest spending in the nation, our schools consistently rank near the bottom. As the mother of a special needs child and the president of the PTO, I have a unique understanding of what is working and what is not. First, we must encourage parents to be more involved in their children’s education. We need to expand access to educational resources, ensure dollars follow the students not the systems, and provide our teachers with the benefits and resources to stay engaged with our kids.
Q: Homelessness in Delaware more than doubled in 2022. What legislation would you propose to reduce the number of unhoused in Delaware?
A: As I drive through Dover every day, I am reminded of just how hard it is for Delawareans to make a good living and provide for their families. The rising rate of homelessness in Delaware is a problem. To address this, we need to ensure we have an economy that allows people to make a good living. We need to promote financial literacy in our schools and give the unhoused the resources they need to find affordable housing.
Q: What role should the government play with regard to a woman’s reproductive choices?
A: The General Assembly has codified access to reproductive health in Delaware. We should not change the laws that are already on the books.
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 safe, healthy drinking water is important for all Delawareans. The General Assembly should take action to ensure all localities have the resources necessary to provide safe drinking water to their residents. As a Representative, I will fight to ensure towns and counties have the resources to improve critical 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 – With rising rates of homelessness and healthcare costs increasing for Delaware families, we need to ensure all Delawareans have access to the resources necessary to live a productive life. As the mother of a special needs child with Down Syndrome, I understand just how important access is for families. We are a nation of immigrants, and Delaware should do everything we can so legal immigrants can achieve their American dream.
Q: How likely are you to support gun legislation such as safe storage or banning assault weapons?
A: Neither support nor oppose
Q: Do you agree or disagree with this statement: “Mail-in ballots cause voter fraud.”
A: Strongly disagree
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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
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Candidate did not respond to questionnaire.
For more information visit website: https://lyearickfordelaware.com/
The Delaware Journalism Collaborative is a project of the Local Journalism Initiative.
