By Adam Taylor
WILMINGTON (October 29, 2010)— Democratic candidate Chip Flowers called for expanding the state treasurer’s office to include a division that would formulate the state’s economic policies.
Republican Colin Bonini said he would narrow the office’s focus to a single task: Being the watchdog for excessive state spending.
In addition to laying out their vastly different visions for the treasurer’s office at a Wilmington Rotary Club debate at the Hotel du Pont on Thursday, they also said electing the other candidate would be dangerous for the state’s economy.
Flowers said Bonini’s platform would severely limit the potential of the office, which he said simply processes checks and issues municipal bonds.
“This is not a time to sit back and watch,” Flowers said. “This is not a time for a bully pulpit to complain about spending.”
Bonini disagreed, saying Flowers essentially wants to take over part of the duties of the governor and director of the Delaware Economic Development Office.
“If we get to the point where we need the state treasurer to generate economic stimulus, I’m abandoning ship,” Bonini said. “Economic development shouldn’t be taken from Jack Markell and Alan Levin. I think that’s a terrible idea.”
Flowers said his planned reorganization of the office wouldn’t make it bigger or more expensive to run. Bonini said it would.
Flowers said Bonini’s not as qualified to be treasurer because he doesn’t have any college degrees in finance or economics. Flowers has a bachelor’s in economics and master’s degrees in business and public administration.
Bonini said while he doesn’t have the degrees, his 16 years in the state Senate have more than prepared him to oversee state spending.
“That’s how you learn, from being in the trenches for that long,” Bonini said.
At one point, Bonini joked about ongoing struggles with his weight and said he was going to air an ad that would be a takeoff on Republican U.S. Senate candidate Christine
O’Donnell’s infamous TV spot in which she said, “I’m not a witch. I’m you.”
“I’m going to run one that says, ‘I’m you – and I’m you,’ ” Bonini said.
Flowers conceded that Bonini is funny and jovial, but said that’s no reason to elect him treasurer. Flowers compared Bonini to former FEMA Director Michael Brown, who was popular before Hurricane Katrina hit and the federal response was delayed and inadequate.
“Our levees are broken in Delaware,” Flowers said.
Flowers criticized Bonini’s poor attendance at Senate committee meetings and said he was taken off the Joint Finance Committee because he didn’t show up enough.
“You had a chance to put some of the economic initiatives into effect, but you weren’t there,” Flowers said.
Bonini said he was taken off the committee because be was too much of a fiscal watchdog, even for members of his own party.
“You know why I got kicked off the JFC?” Bonini said. “I asked questions like, ‘How much does that cost?’ and ‘Does that program work?’ They didn’t want to hear those questions.”
Contact Adam Taylor at 324-2787 or ataylor@delawareonline.com.
