An interview with Ruth Briggs King Candidate for the 37th
Aug 18th, 2009 by David Anderson
Ms. Ruth Briggs King is the Republican candidate for the 37th Representative district formerly held by current Sen. Joe Booth.
I asked Mrs. King a series of questions solely on issues facing the state and district. When asked For her top three priorities she listed restraining state spending, the balance of power/prevention of one party having unfettered power, and improving job creation.
1. She said that she wanted to look at spending reforms to cut the cost of government further. Each agency should be given a mandate to find further savings. She was concerned about the money wasted in purchases and bill paying which is estimated to exceed an 100 million dollars according to the News Journal. The state government has been multiplying for years, and now “we can’t tax our way out of this”.
2. Balance of power: She views keeping this seat in Republican hands because losing it would make one party too powerful. She stated, “the government works best when we have to have vigorous debates”. “I have never been an advocate of one party having the ability to move without debate and discussion” she said. She sighted tax legislation as an example.
3. Jobs– We need to a growing job base. We can’t put all of our eggs in one basket (consisting of) brining out of state companies coming into Delaware. We need to have an environment where the 5 person business grows to an eight or ten person one, she declared. The state needs to work better with business, she said. She sighted slow moving permits and decisions by DENRec and DelDOT as costing money and jobs. There are too many layers and it takes too long to make a decision. Time means money, she contended. She applauded some changes made by Alan Levin in the Economic Development Office.
Ms. Briggs King also addressed my questions on issues such as abortion, education, Del Pointe and growth and development.
As a person of faith, she understands that life begins at conception. In public policy that may come up, she opposes abortion as birth control; she favors parental involvement laws; opposes state money for embryonic stem cell research; and opposes tax money for abortion.
Education–As a former teacher, she is happy to see the DSTP replaced. To summarize her opposition, it is an ineffective measure because it occurs with 1/3 of the school year left and ties too much to one test which tempts teaching to it. She is disappointed that the state is having to rebid the contract, which sticks us with it one more year. She favors a system which tests in real time throughout the year.
She has a positive view of the role of charter schools in the educational system. She favors taking some of the excessive regulations off of district public schools so they can have some of the same flexibility to focus on the right outcomes which are better student achievement (and something I missed).
Del Pointe–She is still researching that issue. She is hearing a lot of support from the district as she campaigns.
Growth and Development– She is a strong advocate of smart growth. She believes that neighbors best know their neighborhood therefore land use decisions should be made at the local level. She is strongly in favor of keeping the decision making at the local and county level not the state level.
I thank Ms. Ruth Briggs King for taking a few minutes with me. I hope this is enlightening to the residents of the 37th. The special election is September 12, 2009.
David, good interview. I would have asked her how she would handle the transition from being a registered lobbyist representing special interests, to being an elected official representing the interests of the voters.
I sense a bit of antipathy towards permits and regulations whereas “time is money”. That’s no doubt a good ethic in the business world. But the State has duties other than greasing the path for business profits. That’s why we passed laws saying you can’t dump poison in the river even if it means jobs. You can’t build housing developments anywhere without considering infrastructure needs.
David, since this is your post, if you would prefer no questioning about candidates possible conflicts of interest or anything serious like that, please say so. Otherwise, what say you about going from registered special interest lobbyist to lawmaker?
I have no issue with it. We all have special interests. Hers are out in the open.
I hope the Republican Party comes out in full force and can convince all of the Independents to vote Republican! This is one seat we can’t afford to lose to the Democrats and give then full power in all branches in Delaware!
David, fair enough. You’re right, it’s in the open.
You do agree then, it looks like that for the last 5 years this candidate has been an official registered lobbyist paid by builders, developers, and MH park owners. Not something you see too often in an election, a currently registered lobbyist trying to win a seat in the house. Maybe because of the special election deadline, there is not that much time for this to sink in. I guess the good news is the candidate is GOP?
She has my vote.
The opposing candidate is a public defender who did his job. It might be interesting to see how many of his clients did not walk the straight and narrow after beating the rap thanks to his efforts.
There is a passage in Candide where the people of ElDorado find great joy in that the hero ‘is not a Jesuit’.
Finding a candidate who is not a lawyer is refreshing.
1. She said that she wanted to look at spending reforms to cut the cost of government further. Each agency should be given a mandate to find further savings. She was concerned about the money wasted in purchases and bill paying which is estimated to exceed an 100 million dollars according to the News Journal. The state government has been multiplying for years, and now “we can’t tax our way out of this”.
I don’t think a mandate to each agency is the best way to handle it. I mean if for instance one agency is already barebones, I can’t see them squeezing more cash out…however if reforms were targeted at bloated and egregiously overspending agencies then I could get behind it. They need to focus on the Department of Ed and the DoT first and foremost.
2. Balance of power: She views keeping this seat in Republican hands because losing it would make one party too powerful. She stated, “the government works best when we have to have vigorous debates”. “I have never been an advocate of one party having the ability to move without debate and discussion” she said. She sighted tax legislation as an example.
I would say to hell with what party controls what, I want intelligent, fiscally responsible and Constitutionally sound individuals in office. Screw the Republicans AND the Democrats as far as I am concerned, give me a Conservative from any party.
3. Jobs– We need to a growing job base. We can’t put all of our eggs in one basket (consisting of) brining out of state companies coming into Delaware. We need to have an environment where the 5 person business grows to an eight or ten person one, she declared. The state needs to work better with business, she said. She sighted slow moving permits and decisions by DENRec and DelDOT as costing money and jobs. There are too many layers and it takes too long to make a decision. Time means money, she contended. She applauded some changes made by Alan Levin in the Economic Development Office.
I can get behind this however I think she ought to focus on (hardcore conservatives cover you ears, liberals get ready to freak out) Green Technology jobs or small footprint manufacturing (I hear semiconductor companies are looking for new homes) and give some examples of what she would like to see as opposed to some blanket statements.
We need to be focusing on the election of principled, articulate and intelligent conservatives and not issue based Republican hacks. Not that all Republicans are hacks but some are.
I hear you, but I will say that realistically party does matter. As a conservative, you understand that allowing a party dominated by liberals to have unchecked power is not good for our principles. We have seen that when the chips are down conservative Democrats in the state house and in the national House tend to buckle under to the vast majority in their own party.
“it looks like that for the last 5 years this candidate has been an official registered lobbyist paid by builders, developers, and MH park owners.”
Where did she get paid by builders and developers?
She was a paid administrator for the manufactured park owners, who had a hired lobbyist in Dover that did their lobbying, and now she’s a paid administrator for the Realtor Association, who has a hired lobbyist in Dover that does their lobbying. Disingenuous Bill Holt trying to undercut the Republican yet again because of his hatred of the Republican Party.
I can get behind this however I think she ought to focus on (hardcore conservatives cover you ears, liberals get ready to freak out) Green Technology jobs or small footprint manufacturing
Holy crap. We agree on something.
Am I drinking?
David, in the interest of full and fair reporting, when are you going to interview Rob Robinson?
Danger Will Robinson!!!! It is time for a necessary Think 123 fact check. With his ongoing petty vendetta against the Republican Party, frustrated job seeker think 123 will fabricate any type of inaccuracy to demean Republican Candidates. Here is his latest from comment 1.
“David, good interview. I would have asked her how she would handle the transition from being a registered lobbyist representing special interests, ……”
Fact: Ruth Briggs King is NOT a registered lobbyist.
Fact: The Sussex Association of Realtors has NO lobbyist.
Fact: The Registered Lobbyists for the Delaware Association of Realtors are:
Charlotte Herbert
Cristofer Scott Kidner
Andrew Paul Taylor
Fact: None of the above are fake aliases of Ruth Briggs King. They are all real people. Ruth does not go around with a multitude of aliases trying to inpugn the Republican Party.
As all should know, the bitter think 123 will concoct any inaccuracy to continue his longstanding vendetta. He railed against Joe Booth. Now he has set his sights on Ruth King.