Candidate Renews Call for Debates in Race for State Treasurer
For immediate release, July 2, 2010
Contact: Larry Nagengast, Senior Advisor, 302-373-525 or larry@chipflowers.com
In light of today’s news that job losses across the nation are rising and the economy is showing signs of weakening, Chip Flowers, Democratic candidate for State Treasurer, says his agenda for the office, “The Flowers Framework for Restoring Prosperity,” will benefit middle-class Delawareans by creating jobs, promoting economic growth and streamlining finance-related operations throughout state government.
The Flowers Framework contains 18 specific ideas to assist Delaware in competing in today’s 21st century global economy. It emphasizes four core themes: fiscal responsibility, economic growth and stimulating businesses, planning and forecasting and revamping the state’s financial agencies.
Key proposals under the Flowers Framework include implementing a State Financial Warning System to serve as an indicator to state agencies to initiate cost-cutting measures at the start of an economic downturn to generate immediate cost savings and creating the “Hometown” and “Excellence in Delaware” Tax Credits to combat the increasing number of Delaware graduates seeking employment outside the state and to attract the best and brightest talent to the First State. The plan would also create the Delaware investment fund to invest and loan public and private funds in an objective and fair manner to businesses in alignment with the state’s economic policies and revamp the state treasurer’s office to ensure fiscal responsibility while fostering and promoting economic growth and job creation.
“These proposals, like others in the Framework, will benefit middle-income Delawareans by creating new jobs, strengthening small businesses, improving economic forecasting and streamlining some state government operations,” said Chip Flowers, candidate for Delaware State Treasurer (https://www.chipflowers.com/). “While we are confident that state investments in Sallie Mae and other key corporations will have a long-term impact on job growth, I believe that the state treasurer’s office can be instrumental in developing solutions that will reverse the tide of job losses in the near future.”
“On the same day that it was announced that job losses are on the rise and Delaware families continue to face economic hardship, our opponent, the appointed incumbent, decided to issue a news release recycling the announcement of a four month old endorsement of her candidacy,” campaign manager Dustin Parker said. “It is time that our opponent realize that this campaign is about ideas about improving our state’s economy and joining the efforts of Governor Markell and Secretary Levin in bringing jobs to Delaware. If our opponent has time to film a video retrospective of her life, we certainly hope that she can return our calls to schedule debates to talk about important issues to put Delawareans back to work. You cannot build false momentum with old endorsements. The people deserve better.”
In describing his proposals, Flowers said that “the Financial Warning System, for example, would bring together economic research and forecasting offices throughout the state to better assess changes in economic conditions. Improved reporting systems will give state agencies earlier notice to adjust spending patterns, and making this information available to the public will help families with their own budgeting. The Hometown Tax Credit encourages businesses to hire well-qualified graduates of Delaware high schools, colleges and universities — bringing more jobs to the state and encouraging young men and women who have been educated with our tax dollars to pursue their bright futures in their home state.”
“Working-class Delawareans have been struggling in this recession for too long. To restore prosperity, we need strong ideas and a commitment to work with the governor and the General Assembly to make them part of our recovery strategy. I pledge to do just that,” said Flowers.
Flowers, a Wilmington attorney who lives in Middletown, is founder and managing member of the Flowers Counsel Group, LLC, which advises major businesses on contractual agreements for major purchases and mergers and acquisitions. His global and Fortune 500 clients include DuPont, AstraZeneca, Bank of America, Barclay’s Bank Delaware, ING Bank FSB, Harvard University and the Buccini/Pollin Group. Flowers majored in economics at the University of Pennsylvania and received his law degree and a Masters in Business Administration from Georgetown University. He later earned a Masters of Public Administration from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. Flowers previously worked in the White House Office of Political Affairs under President Bill Clinton. He was a Delaware delegate to the 2004 Democratic National Convention.
