Wilmington (October 29, 2010) – In the latest poll released by Fairleigh Dickinson University, Chip Flowers, Democratic candidate for State Treasurer, is leading his opponent by a margin of 42% vs. 41%, with 17% of Delaware voters undecided. For additional information about the poll, please click here.

In response to the poll, Flowers stated, “Voters have greeted my ‘Restoring Prosperity’ message with understanding and enthusiasm. Now, more than ever, I am convinced that Delawareans want their state treasurer to invigorate this office so that it meets our state’s 21st century needs, managing our accounts wisely, investing our funds so they best serve the people, helping to create jobs and serving as an engine of economic development. We will continue to work hard with the goal of winning the final and most important poll of Delaware voters on Election Day.”

“Use of Confidential Information of Public Employees by Opponent for Malicious Political Purposes Violates Law”

The Flowers for Treasurer campaign has received urgent notice that our opponent, incumbent state Senator Colin Bonini, in response to his decline in poll numbers, has done the unthinkable — sent a letter to our public employees and emergency first responders, using their confidential information, falsely asserting that Chip Flowers, the leading candidate for state treasurer, would withhold their paychecks if elected.

Mr. Flowers has never made such assertion and Mr. Bonini, who has threatened not to sign checks, is trying to deceive those who serve the public. As an elected official, Mr. Bonini has reached a new low and continues to violate the public trust. With each passing day, Mr. Bonini’s statements stray farther from the truth, farther from reality. They are, however, consistent with the dubious and extreme statements issued by his campaign.

Additionally, in the negative letter, Mr. Bonini falsely claims that he championed the cause of public employees by voting against the budget. This could not be further from the truth. Mr. Bonini has voted against every budget since becoming a member of the Delaware state senate – which means, among other things, Mr. Bonini voted against paying salaries for our public employees. Furthermore, Mr. Bonini voted against restoring pay to our public employees earlier this year. Mr. Bonini’s actions by asserting falsehoods clearly reflect his poor character.

Furthermore, our campaign is very concerned about how Mr. Bonini was able to obtain the confidential information of our public employees (including, names and addresses), since this information is not publicly available. We are requesting that Mr. Bonini disclose how the confidential personal information of our public employees came into his possession for malicious political purposes. This disclosure of confidential information for political purposes violates state law and Mr. Bonini must explain his actions.

Mr. Flowers has been endorsed by, among others, the Delaware State AFL-CIO, Delaware State Education Association (DSEA) and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME). Regardless of Mr. Bonini’s false claims, Delaware’s state employees are confident that Mr. Flowers will serve them well — and that he will provide outstanding service to all citizens of the state while serving as its treasurer.

Delawareans must reject Mr. Bonini’s lies and we must ensure that the confidential information of our public employees and first responders is never again used for malicious political purposes. This is unacceptable and Delaware deserves better.

Official Statement Concerning Inaccurate Direct Mail and Radio Advertising by Colin Bonini
Statement by Dustin Parker, campaign manager:

“Even in the final days of the campaign for state treasurer, Colin Bonini and his team remain incapable of maintaining a serious discussion of how best to manage this important office. Rather, the Bonini team persists in distributing inaccurate direct mail and radio advertising concerning Chip Flowers.
Mr. Bonini’s latest direct mail piece repeats the already refuted claim that Chip Flowers would somehow be “double-dipping” as state treasurer.

We repeat: Chip Flowers will have no management responsibility at his law firm, the Flowers Counsel Group, LLC, while serving as state treasurer. Another lawyer in the firm will serve as its managing director. The banks that are now clients of his law firm do not have any relationships with the treasurer’s office. If they were to become financial partners with the state, they would have to sever any relationship with the Flowers Counsel Group. All arrangements made will comply with the Rules of the Supreme Court of Delaware and the state’s Public Integrity Commission.

Mr. Bonini’s stream of misstatements falls short of the standards Delaware expects of its elected officials. By continuing to spend his campaign resources persistently distributing inaccurate and misleading information, he is demonstrating the very carelessness and wastefulness that he claims he wants to root out of state government. In addition, he has engaged out-of-state businesses to produce his direct mail and radio advertising — spending his money out of state when he could be supporting Delaware’s small businesses in this time of severe economic need.

During this campaign, Mr. Bonini has trivialized his absences from and weak performances on the General Assembly’s Joint Sunset and Joint Finance committees, misrepresented his educational record by falsely claiming a master’s degree from the University of Delaware, and has asked voters to overlook the lien the Internal Revenue Service placed on his home when he failed to pay more than $20,000 in taxes.
By his own conduct and statements, Mr. Bonini has shown that he lacks the diligence and integrity required to hold the office of state treasurer.”

Immediate Release
Saturday, October 23, 2010

Watch Chip Flowers, Democratic candidate for state treasurer, debate his opponent on Delaware First Media! Click here for the video.

Below is the official response to a false, negative mailing issued against Chip Flowers, Democratic candidate for State Treasurer by Colin Bonini, our incumbent state senator opponent.

“In response to a decline in his poll numbers, we are disappointed that our opponent, Colin Bonini, has dodged candidate forums and issued a series of false and negative mailings and radio ads against Chip Flowers, Democratic candidate for State Treasurer. Mr. Bonini falsely asserts that clients of Mr. Flowers’ successful small business may conflict with the current operations of the state treasurer’s office. Unlike Mr. Bonini, Mr. Flowers is not a government official and has no conflict of interest issues at this time. Upon election, Mr. Flowers will have no management role in the daily operation of his successful small business and in accordance with the Rules of Professional Responsilibity of the Supreme Court of the State of Delaware, no client of the law firm will have a contract with the state treasurer’s office. We kindly encourage Mr. Bonini to cease issuing falsehoods and negative mailings and issue his plan to help move our economy forward. The people of Delaware deserve solutions, not slander.”

For immediate release, October 18, 2010
Contact: Larry Nagengast, Senior Advisor, 302-373-5254
larry@chipflowers.com

Wilmington, Delaware (October 18, 2010) – New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg has endorsed Chip Flowers, Democratic candidate for Delaware state treasurer.

Bloomberg, an independent who has endorsed candidates from both political parties throughout the current election cycle, is endorsing Flowers because of the centrist economic policies set forth in his plan, “The Flowers Framework for Restoring Prosperity,” and commitment to revamping the state treasurer’s office to focus on fiscal responsibility, economic growth, effective government, innovation and restoring prosperity to the people of the state of Delaware.

In announcing the endorsement and citing the need to promote the next generation of public leaders, Bloomberg said, “It is my privilege to endorse Chip Flowers as Delaware’s next state treasurer. Chip’s creative plan, along with his impeccable academic credentials and success in the business community, will make him a strong asset to Delaware. I look forward to working with Chip over the coming years and developing a strong working relationship between our city and the Delaware’s treasurer’s office in moving our economy forward.”

“I am humbled by the receiving the endorsement of New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who is not only a dedicated and respected public servant, but a true leader and trailblazer in our nation’s financial community,” Flowers said. “For a young aspiring public servant, Mayor Bloomberg’s practical governing style has been instrumental in developing my own career path and I am grateful for his support.”

Following the precedent set by Mayor Bloomberg in New York City, if legally permissible under Delaware law, Flowers has pledged to accept a $1 in salary for the first year of his term to assist Delaware in its cost-cutting measures. “As shown by Mayor Bloomberg, those individuals with the personal means to forgo a state salary in this difficult economic climate should consider returning the money to the people,” Flowers said.

Bloomberg, in his third term as mayor of New York City, is the founder and principal owner of Bloomberg L.P., a financial news and information services media company. A lifelong Democrat before seeking elective office, Bloomberg switched his registration in 2001 and ran for mayor as a Republican, winning the election that year and a second term in 2005. He left the Republican Party in 2007 and is currently an independent, earning the support and respect of voters across the political spectrum.

Flowers, founder and managing director of The Flowers Counsel Group, LLC, a law firm that advises Fortune 500 companies on procurement issues and acquisitions, previously worked in the White House Office of Political Affairs under President Bill Clinton and was a Delaware delegate to the 2004 Democratic National Convention. 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. Clients of the Flowers Counsel Group include DuPont, AstraZeneca, Bank of America, Barclay’s Bank Delaware, ING Bank FSB, Harvard University and the Buccini/Pollin Group.

To learn more about the Flowers campaign and his proposals, “The Flowers Framework for Restoring Prosperity,” go to www.chipflowers.com.

For immediate release, October 17, 2010
Contact: Larry Nagengast, Senior Advisor, 302-373-5254

Wilmington, Delaware – The Delaware State Education Association (DSEA), the state’s largest union representing educators, announced that it has endorsed Chip Flowers, Democratic candidate for Delaware State Treasurer.

“As a product of a family of educators, I am truly honored to receive the prestigious endorsement of the DSEA. I am grateful that the DSEA, after evaluating both candidates for this important office, endorsed my candidacy and vision for our state treasurer’s office. I look forward to working with the DSEA and its membership in achieving many of the goals set forth in my plan, The Flowers Framework to Restore Prosperity,” said Flowers.

The Delaware State Education Association, a union of public school employees, advocates for the rights and interests of its members and outstanding public education for all students.

For immediate release, October 11, 2010
Contact: Larry Nagengast, Senior Advisor, 302-373-5254
larry@chipflowers.com

Asserting that “jobs and growing our economy should be a huge priority of next State Treasurer,” Chip Flowers, Democratic candidate for the office, clearly and concisely outlined his proposals in a debate Monday night on WDEL radio against his incumbent state senator opponent.

“It’s time for a bold plan that promotes growth and economic prosperity,” Flowers said, emphasizing a theme that has resonated with voters throughout his campaign.

“We have said all along that this election is about the power of centrist ideas, not an extreme agenda, and tonight’s debate showed that Chip has the ideas to move our state’s finances forward,” said Dustin Parker, Flowers for Treasurer campaign manager.

On November 2, voters will choose between Flowers and his opponent, an incumbent state senator.

Flowers, founder and managing director of The Flowers Counsel Group, LLC, a law firm that advises Fortune 500 companies on procurement issues and acquisitions, previously worked in the White House Office of Political Affairs under President Bill Clinton and was a Delaware delegate to the 2004 Democratic National Convention. 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. Clients of the Flowers Counsel Group include DuPont, AstraZeneca, Bank of America, Barclay’s Bank Delaware, ING Bank FSB, Harvard University and the Buccini/Pollin Group.

To learn more about the Flowers campaign and his proposals, “The Flowers Framework for Restoring Prosperity,” go to www.chipflowers.com.