Markell appointee, Dover senator to run for treasurer

State Treasurer Velda Jones-Potter confirmed this week she will run to keep the post she was appointed to when Gov. Jack Markell vacated the office in January.

Next year Jones-Potter will face off against one other Democrat, Wilmington corporate lawyer Chip Flowers, in a primary election. The victor most likely will be pitted against Kent County Republican Sen. Colin Bonini, the only member of the GOP in the race so far.

“I certainly was honored with the appointment and have been honored to serve in these months since,” said Jones-Potter. “We’ve done some really good things during my short tenure here and I’m really looking forward to the opportunity to build on some of the things we’ve put in place.”

The former MBNA and DuPont executive is particularly proud of her agency’s efforts to reduce the number of paper checks issued by the state, which increases efficiency and cuts operational costs.

“We are scrutinizing in a very refined way our operations and looking for efficiencies throughout our organization, and reaching out to and working with agencies to do that,” she said.

But agency-level belt tightening isn’t enough for Bonini, who garners attention each budget session for voting against the state’s yearly spending measure.

The fiscally conservative senator said he wants to take the treasurer’s office in another direction, beyond a purely administrative role.

“In addition to the financial housekeeping I think the state treasurer needs to be the voice for fiscal sanity in Delaware and that is what I plan on making it,” he said. “This is absolutely not a traditional state treasurer’s race.”

Bonini added that while cost-cutting measures are great, the treasurer needs to take a broader look at state spending.

“Delawareans in my opinion need to know where every single penny of their tax dollars are going, and when I think it’s being misspent, I’m going to tell them,” he said. “I think an independent statewide elected official has the opportunity to do that.”

Jones-Potter said that she’s also in favor of keeping a close eye on spending across state government.

“I frankly tend to be quite frugal when it comes to spending, and I do think there’s a place and an opportunity for us where we see spending by other agencies that we feel could be better managed and where savings are possible to encourage and work with them to help make that happen,” she said.

Flowers, who announced his candidacy in August, said he too wants the treasurer to play a bigger part in shaping the state's fiscal policy.

"Our campaign is focusing on the need to revamp the state treasurer’s office to give it a stronger role in shaping our economic development strategy to restore prosperity to the First State,” he said in a statement.

The Middletown resident also said he's not worried about running against an incumbent.

"We welcome Velda Jones-Potter into the race and look forward to an exciting debate on the important role the state treasurer must play in strengthening Delaware's finances in the 21st century" he said. 

Bonini acknowledged that while his background in finance is not as robust as his opponent’s, he has more than enough experience with the state budget.

“I think my record as a fiscal watchdog is unblemished and it’s a perfect match for me,” he said. “I haven’t had specific finance jobs, I’m not a stock broker, but I certainly have plenty of private sector experience, and I understand the state budgeting process pretty darn well.”

Currently, Bonini sells surety bonds for Delmarva Underwriters, based in Dover, and is a marketing representative for a New Jersey civil engineering firm.

The senator also said he’s optimistic that he’ll be the only Republican in the treasurer’s race.

“At this point there haven’t been any Republican challengers and I don’t think we’ll have any because it’s such a good match for me,” he said. “And to have an incumbent state senator who wants to run, I think the party will be pleased.” 

Email Doug Denison at doug.denison@doverpost.com