April 2023
April 29, 2023
Greetings fellow Republicans,
Today, the Delaware Republican Party held its Organizational Convention. The purpose of this convention was to elect the officers of that body. The only contested election was for the Chair of the Party. Julianne Murray was successful in this bid. Congratulations to Julianne on her win.
The other, elections were uncontested. The rest of our new officers are:
-
Jim Weldin for Vice-Chair
-
Brian Gregg for Treasurer
-
Brandon Brice for Secretary
I wish to thank those of you who spent your Saturday driving to Dover to participate in this important activity. Your conviction and loyalty to our Republican Party is inspiring. Major kudos to those of you who attended the dinner last evening with Kellyanne Conway. Driving to Dover in that downpour and then driving back to Sussex afterwards shows an outstanding commitment. Your Sussex County elected officers truly appreciate your dedication.
Marilyn Booker, Chair
Sussex County Republican Committee
April 20, 2023 Greetings, Fellow Republicans, Spring is finally here and it’s time to participate with fellow freedom-loving patriots to let our elected officials know how we feel about some of the outrageous proposals coming out of Dover. There are two hearings and rallies scheduled for April 26th in our state capitol. The first is the bill requiring a “Permit to Purchase.” The Senate hearing will take place in Legislative Hall at 1:00 PM. You can read more about yet another attempt to thwart our 2nd Amendment rights here: https://www.scrwc.net/government. The Rally will take place on the mall across from Legislative Hall. DNREC will hear citizens’ testimonies on the Electric Vehicle Mandate at Levy Court that day. Anyone wishing to testify must sign up by noon on 4/26. To read more information and to sign up to testify click this link: https://dnrec.alpha.delaware.gov/events/public-hearing-low-emission-vehicle-program/ You may watch the proceedings and testify virtually at the Levy Court, 555 S. Bay Road, Dover. The Rally will take place at 5 PM at Levy Court. There is another event that I believe you may be interested in. On Thursday, May 11, 2023 the 41st Republican Club will once again host the annual “Back the Blue Caravan” in honor of all the Law Enforcement agencies that serve both the 41st and 38th districts. This year they have again invited the 38th Republican Club to join them in honoring the men and women in blue. The caravan will visit 9 different law enforcement groups (DSP Troop 4, Probation and Parole, Millsboro Police, Dagsboro Police, Frankford Police, Selbyville Police, South Bethany Police, Bethany Beach Police and Ocean View Police) and deliver cookies and treats to say “Thank You” for all they do to keep us safe. Participants in the Caravan decorate their vehicles in support of these agencies and the Caravan trip, from start to finish, is about 2 hours. The caravan will start at Roses parking lot, 29859 Dupont Blvd., Millsboro. If interested participants should contact Drew Sunderlin, President of the 41st Republican Club info@41strepublicanclub.com, to register by May 8th. Finally, I feel compelled to mention the assault on all women athletes and the desecration of Title IX. Since 1972, women were protected from discrimination in educational programs or activities that received Federal Funding by Title IX. This important law has now been turned on its head with the entry of transgender males into female athletics and their locker rooms. After instructing us all about the need to “follow the science,” during the COVID crisis, it seems as though the Democrats have abandoned not only the science and basic biology, but common sense as well. No matter how many hormones a person takes, or whatever surgeries they have, there will always be a physical advantage of biological men over biological women. One has only to look at Lia Thomas, the U Penn swimmer. When competing in the Men’s Division of the 200 yd freestyle event in 2021, Lia Thomas was ranked as 65th by the NCAA. In 2022, when competing in the Women’s Division, she ranked #1. It is difficult for most of us to believe that her skill improved that much in one year. It did not. In fact, it was her competition not her new-found capability. We believe that all people should be treated with respect. But, no matter how often or loudly the transgender zealots proclaim it, there are differences between men and women and these differences give biological men advantages over biological women when it comes to participating in sports. An athlete’s personal gender identification does not alter this scientific fact. As the mother of a daughter, I would not support my daughter having to be exposed, literally, to biological men in her locker room. I don’t know of any parent who finds this acceptable. The solution is easy. The NCAA and other athletic organizations should initiate a separate league for transgender men and transgender women. It seems to me that this is the only equitable way to address this and keep the competition among men, women, and transgender athletes competitive. Marilyn Booker, Chair Sussex County Republican Committee
DFRW Legislative Day – Thursday, May 4, 2023 Wear Something Red! Time: 11:30 am Arrive DFRW Building 11:45 am Arrive Legislative Hall for a picture on the steps. Our visit plans include a tour of historic Legislative Hall, lunch, meeting our legislators and legislative sessions in the afternoon. See the schedule below. Parking is limited. You can park at the Delaware Federation of Republican Women’s Building at 116 East Water Street, Dover, DE. Please carpool. You must register in advance with Cathy Watts at 410 924 8596 or cwattsup2@gmail.com. Call or email with questions. While there is no charge for this event, we need to provide a head count by Friday, April 28th. This invitation includes both full and associate members. You must have a government photo id to get through security to enter the building. Wear Something Red and comfortable shoes! SCHEDULE 11:45 Arrive at The State Capital Building 411 Legislative Avenue, Dover 12:00 – 12:45 Tour of Legislative Hall with Heritage Park 1:00 Lunch – Light meal will be provided. Room 112 Tatnall Building 150 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd N. 2:00 Legislative Session Seating available in the House Chamber Balcony Approx. 2:20 (At the break for party caucus) Invitation from Representative Ramone to visit with the House Minority Caucus. Room H02 Lower Level * Please note: Schedule subject to change based on Legislative business of the day.
April 3, 2023 ANOTHER ONE BITES THE DUST! Greetings fellow Republicans, Well, on Tuesday, we saw yet another mainstay of our democracy bastardized and weaponized. This is not the first time we’ve watched strongholds of our Constitution decimated. Remember the way in which Lois Learner used the IRS to go after religious and conservative groups during the Obama-Biden Administration. James Comey’s FBI was, and this agency continues to be another example of the Federal Government’s use of our Judicial System as a cudgel to bludgeon its citizens. Neither Lerner nor Comey has been held accountable for these actions. As of Tuesday, it appears equal justice under the law no longer exists. It makes no difference if you are a Donald Trump supporter or detractor. What happened in the District Court of Manhattan was an affront to all of us who respect the Constitution and basic fairness. What the left was expecting to be prime rib turned out to be pablum. Even the liberal talking heads were disappointed with the lack of substance in the 34 counts brought against our former President by District Attorney Alvin Bragg. We must be vigilant and pray for our beloved country as we are facing serious challenges. Marilyn Booker, Chair Sussex County Republican Committee
March 24, 2023 Greetings fellow Republicans, I’m sending my April message out early because we are changing the date of our April Sussex Region Republican Committee General meeting to April 3rd. We will gavel at 6:30 PM as usual. I realize this is the same evening as the 41st District Republican Club PAC, but we were unable to secure the church any other evening that week. We believe meeting on Easter Monday would put unnecessary burden on family time during the holiday. Many of you will be traveling over the Easter Holiday and others will likely have guests visiting who want to share our lovely Spring weather. So mark your calendars! NEWS! Kellyanne Conway will be the speaker at the Annual State Party Dinner on April 28th! The dinner will be held at the Modern Maturity Center, 1121 Forrest Avenue, Dover, DE. Tickets are $90 pp. Jane Brady is running for re-election as the Chair of the Delaware GOP. As of today, her only challenger is Julianne Murray. The election will take place on April 29th at the Convention. SCHOOL BOARDS ELECTIONS – MAY 9TH Next month we are focused on School Boards. Our guest speaker on 4/3 is Tanya Hettler, PhD. Dr. Hettler is the Director of Caesar Rodney’s Center for Educational Excellence and the author of the recently published children’s book, Nary the Right Whale. This well illustrated book addresses the challenges of whales and other sea creatures in the presence of off-shore wind farms. We will also hear from Delmar School Board candidate, Shane Bowden. As you are aware, School Board voter turnout is traditionally low. I’ve heard some in my age group say they are disinterested since they don’t have any school-aged children and it really doesn’t affect them. Nothing could be further from the truth! These Boards have a great deal of power from curricula to budget. Because 90% of your property taxes go to the School System, the School Board actions can and have affected your property taxes. We must support candidates who will focus on “traditional” education and not the separation of our children by skin color, language, sexual orientation or ethnicity. In addition, recently, there has been an increase in violence in classrooms and on school buses. These incidents set up a hostile learning environment for those students who are interested getting an education. We need Board members who are going to address the lack of discipline in schools. Teachers and bus drivers should not have to tolerate or try to mediate these episodes. Here are the Sussex County School Board Candidates and their contact information. If you have any questions, I encourage you to reach out to the candidate. Please note: the larger School Districts – Cape Henlopen and Indian River have “Nominating Districts.” In both of these, the candidate must live in the Nominating District for the seat that is being sought. For Cape Henlopen, even if you do not live in that “Nominating District,” you may vote for the candidate running in ANY Nominating District in the Cape Henlopen School District. That is not the case in the Indian River School District. Only those living in the Nominating District in contention may vote for those candidates. If you are uncertain of your School District please check: https://gis.elections.delaware.gov/ Cape Henlopen Nominating District A (Note: Anyone living in the Cape Henlopen School District may vote for these candidates. Shawn spoke at our Region Meeting on March 13th) Shawn Lovenguth 302-381-381-4133 Jessica A. Tyndall Email: jessica@tyndals.org 302-851-4142 Delmar – At Large. (Note: Shane will be speaking at our April 3rd Region Meeting) Shane Bowden Email: bowdenconstructionde@gmail.com Phone: (410) 726-6427 Dawn M. Turner Email: Dawn4Delmar@gmail.com 410-726-2184 Indian River School District (Note: Nominating Districts 2 and 3. You must live in the same Nominating District to vote for the candidate running in that district. We will have a statement from Michael Bellerose at our Region Meeting on 4/3. He is an airline pilot and will be out of the country that night.) District 2 Michael R. Bellerose Email: Michael@DrBE.org Phone: (603) 391-8685 Leo J. Darmstadter, III Email: Ljdiii20@hotmail.com 856-207-7955 Ivan D Neal Email: Ivanneal7@gamil.com 302-933-0430 District 3 Leolga T. Wright Email: leolgawright@gamil.com 302-945-0830 Laurel At Large Ivy Bonk Email: Ivy@everychildwhole.com Phone: (302) 245-0479 Sabrina Isler Email: Taylorisler427@comcast.net 302-875-0503 Seaford At Large Armore Rice Phone: (302) 344-3276 Stephanie Smith Email: Ssg9922@comcast.net 302-841-8244 David Tull Email: davidtull13@gmail.com Phone: (302) 745-2849 There are a few ways to vote in these elections. I am attaching the link to the absentee ballot request for School Board Elections. If you are unable to get to your polling place to vote in person on May 9th, you may download and print the request for an absentee ballot here: https://elections.delaware.gov/pubs/pdfs/absentee_ballot_application_school_elections.pdf Please complete the application and send it to: Department of Elections 119 N. Race Street Georgetown, DE. 19947 Submit your application for an absentee ballot by Noon on May 5th at the latest! Return it to the Department of Elections by 8 PM on May 9th You may vote at the Department of Elections between 8:30 AM and noon on May 8th You may vote in person at the following locations. IN PERSON VOTING LOCATIONS: MAY 9, 2023 – 7 AM – 8 PM CAPE HENLOPEN CAPE HENLOPEN HIGH SCHOOL 1250 KINGS HWY, LEWES, DE 19958 MARINER MIDDLE SCHOOL 16391 HARBESON RD, MILTON, DE 19968 REJOBOTH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 500 STOCKLEY ST, REHOBOTH, DE 19971 LEWES FIRE HALL 347 SAVANNAH ROAD, LEWES, DE 19958 DELMAR DELMAR HIGH SCHOOL 200 N. 8TH STREET, DELMAR, DE 19940 3C USA CHURCH 38238 OLD STAGE ROAD, DELMAR, DE 19940 GEORGETOWN GEORGETOWN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 301-A WEST MARKET ST. GEORGETOWN, DE 19966 MILLSBORO MIDDLE SCHOOL 302 E. STATE STREET, MILLSBORO, DE 19966 LAUREL LAUREL HIGH SCHOOL 1133 S. CENTRAL AVE, LAUREL, DE 19956 LAUREL FIRE DEPARTMENT 205 W. 10TH STREET, LAUREL, DE 19956 SEAFORD SEAFORD SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL 399 N. MARKET STREET, EXT, SEAFORD, DE 19963 DEPARTMENT OF ELECTIONS WAREHOUSE 200 ALLEN ST, SEAFORD, DE 19973 Please, please vote in the School Board Elections! These elections are more important now than ever before!