Renewing The GOP Majority

The Party had a rough year, but the undercurrent was not based upon a fundamental sea change in public opinion. We can reconnect with the public to form that “non-left majority” in Delaware elections.

We have a vigorous opponent in the other party and we must have an even more vigorous plan. We have fallen into a distinct disadvantage. Here are my suggestions to turn the situation to our advantage. Naturally, we do not abandon the 72 hour program, the expansion of the youth clubs (TAR’s and CR’s) and our media strategy. This is in addition to what we are already doing.

In Kent County and in the Ramone race, we fell victim to unanswered attacks. I propose establishing a volunteer core of a GOP Truth squad in each region as well as a county press spokesperson. This truth squad would call talk shows and write letters to the community and dominate papers, highlighting issues and correcting inaccuracies. It should be broad enough to allow multiple letters on an important topic. Truth squad people should have ready access to information from elected officials or candidates such as a number to campaign managers or an official or staffer. The community papers are as widely read in total as the News Journal.

Know the voters. In Rep. Nancy Wagner’s first race, some of us were able to identify 500 values democrats and were able to switch a couple of hundred. This turned out to be her margin of victory. We need to identify, through canvass and phone polling, independent voters and soft democrats by their own hot issue. Mailings and autodialers could be targeted by an issue (their issue) that will drive a person over to our candidates.
I recommend investing the 25k to do the phone part professionally.

We need to build the team.

Fundraising Art Auction—or other regionally appropriate fundraiser to get new people involved.

Family Fun Day/block parties with games, moon bounces, local bands, etc. It should also have Republican booths to sign up people to the meetings and our elected officials mixing with the crowd.

GOP youth day run by CR’s and TAR’s with support from the region. Local bands, food, and entertainment with active recruitment.

Structural change: We need to change our candidate search committees to be more representative with one person from each district in a region and two at large. It would ideally have ideological, gender, and ethnic diversity. We need local endorsements to go first through the district committees. Then the regional committee should vote on the recommendations. Some people would still complain, but the process would be open and transparent. It would more likely reflect the person’s talents as a candidate.

This part is beyond just the Party committee’s ability to achieve. We need a unified party platform-- our version of the contract. It would give us the ability to hammer an agenda for the next two years and change the discussion. We need people to be able to see voting republican makes a difference.

Here are my recommendations.
10 Point to renew the American Dream in Delaware

Protect Our Families
*A Delaware Jessica’s Law is needed to put child sexual predators away and stop the current revolving door of repeat offenders
*Increase grants to shelters that house victims of Domestic violence and set up a state police task force to monitor and enforce Protection From Abuse orders, and strengthen penalties for those who commit or threaten violence while under those orders.
*utilize grants from the federal marriage initiative.

Prosperity
*Tax reform establish a flat tax with a state earned income credit 1/4 of the federal.
*Eliminate gross receipt tax on goods manufactured but not retailed in Delaware.
*Revitalize our cities with enterprise zones and a real affordable housing strategy.
*Two year tax break for alternative energy facilities.

Return to Government of the People
A version of initiative and referendum at all levels of government.
A version of the open government initiative