Rep. Cathcart Retires from Delaware General Assembly
Jul 6th, 2010 by Timothy Pancoast
Statement from Republican State Chairman Tom Ross on Rep. Cathcart’s Retirement
“This afternoon, Republican House Leader, State Rep. Dick Cathcart, announced that he will be retiring from the General Assembly.
Rep. Cathcart did his first tour of duty in the General Assembly from 1978-1982. In 1997, following the death of an incumbent legislator, the Republican Party asked Rep. Cathcart to run for office once again. He won that special election, and has served in the House of Representatives for the past 13 years, with the last several years being in leadership.
I want to thank Rep. Cathcart for his service to the Republican Party and to Delaware. Delaware is a better state to live in thanks to Rep. Cathcart’s service. I particularly think of the tireless way that Rep. Cathcart fought on behalf of patients at the Delaware Psychiatric Center whose voices were not being heard.
I also want to recognize Linda Cathcart. It’s not easy being the wife of an elected official, especially one who serves in leadership. Linda has been Dick’s partner in all of his efforts, and the Republican Party owes her special thanks as well.
I know that Republicans throughout Delaware join me in wishing Dick and Linda the best in the years to come.”
AFTER 17 YEARS, STATE REPRESENTATIVE DICK CATHCART ANNOUNCES
HIS RETIREMENT FROM THE DELAWARE GENERAL ASSEMBLY
Rep. Cathcart endorses Middletown small business owner and former police officer, John Marino, as his replacement
Citing increased pressures and the associated stress that is compounded by serving in the General Assembly and holding a full time job, State Representative Richard C. Cathcart (R-Middletown) announced that he will not seek re-election.
According to Rep. Cathcart, “This is one of the most difficult decisions I have ever had to make. It was clear that I had to reduce the stress of doing two jobs. It was then that, with my wife Linda, I began to reassess my life and consider options. After weighing many factors and looking at what made the most sense for my family and me, there was only one difficult course of action – announce my retirement.”
Rep. Cathcart, who has served as House Minority Leader for the past two years, also proudly endorsed a longtime member of his campaign team, John Marino, 45, of Lea Eara Farms, to run for his 9th District seat.
Marino, a former police officer and active member of his community for over 10 years, is a small business owner and says he looks forward to continuing Rep. Cathcart’s tradition of strong constituent services.
Rep. Cathcart said, “I have known John Marino for many years now and I think he is the best choice to represent the people of the 9th District. He is a man of strong character and has worked to help others since he came to Delaware to work and raise a family 13 years ago. When John is not working, he spends most of his free time coaching and managing local youth sports teams, as well as serving as a committed volunteer in his community.
Marino, a husband and father of three, said he is running for office to stop the wasteful spending in Dover . He stated, “Everything I set my mind to, whether it’s coaching little league, running a business or taking care of my family, I give it my all.”
He also stated, “I am honored to have the trust and endorsement of Rep. Cathcart. He has served our community with the highest distinction and I am fully committed to continuing that tradition. Like Dick, I will work toward lowering taxes, making government more efficient and restoring our state to something we all can be proud of.”
Rep. Cathcart was first elected to the House in 1978 and served until 1982. He was elected to the 9th District in 1997 during a Special Election to fill a seat left vacant by a death. Rep.Cathcart – Associate Vice President of University Operations at Delaware State University – also served as House Majority Leader between 2007 and 2008. Rep. Cathcart’s many legislative achievements over the years have included improving water quality for the residents of the 9th District, fighting against workforce housing and heading an effort to improve the conditions for patients and staff at the Delaware Psychiatric Center .
Rep. Cathcart concluded with stating that he will remain committed to finishing his term and serving as House Minority Leader. He said, “I will work as hard as I always have in serving the people of the 9th District who have given me the honor to represent them for the past 13 years – a fact that I am most proud of.”
So why was Mike Stafford not considered by Cathcart????
Don’t know, maybe he did. I am not from that district so I don’t know all of the options he had, but Rep. Cathcart’s endorsement of John Marino, as presented in the release seems reasonable.
Because as everyone active in Colonial knows I have literally zero interest in running for office- I have a new baby due next week and, as they say, family comes first. Also, when I became Colonial chair I took on the responsibility of being a resource for our local candidates- that, getting those Republicans elected, is my focus.
Thanks for the update Michael. That is a perfectly good explaination, and I agree with you that the family comes first.
Thanks for the update Mike. I thought you would be a solid candidate. Best of luck on the new baby.
I agree, with a new family, running for office in the near future makes little sense.
I will back you in any office provided it is not immigration commissioner!!!
Thanks Tennessee! It’s appreciated my friend.
We have some *great* new candidates in Colonial this year- Andye Daley for County Council, Kate Rokosz, Jay Galloway and Jim Van Houten- and of course, Terry Spence as well. We’re going to miss Dick but, if we all come together and work as a team, I think we’ll keep the 9th in Republican hands. And that- winning the 9th- is critical to getting a majority back in the House down in Dover.
Good riddance! Now if we can get Danny Short to do the honorable thing we’d finally be rid of the inept “leadership” that agreed to let the Dems raise taxes and fees left and right instead of cutting the budget.
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It is a small political earthquake. I wish he and his wife the best. It does not help the take over of the house. It changes a likely Republican seat to a toss up.
Thanks, Dick for all you’ve done for us. I would have very much enjoyed calling you “Mr. Speaker” in the next General Assembly. You’d be a good one.
On we go now. On Kate, On Andye, On Jay and Jim! On Terry Spence and all our Republican team!
Dave–I can assure you this is no small “small political earthquake” to us in the Appoquinimink School District. We will now fall prey to the legislative/financial/political wide paintbrush Dover heaps on school districts w/o the strong advocacy and navigation Rep. Cathcart has lent to us via JFC and a bunch of other hurdles we contend with regularly. He no doubt broke w/ party lines often to serve constituents directly impacted by Dover mandates, to squeeze us into epilogue or whatever to customize our very different situation from the rest of the state. Great, all we need now is some political novice to fall prey to either party to NOT consider their own or constituent counsel. I know it’s early for the float of names–but I am greatly concerned. Thank you Rep. Cathcart for serving ALL of us in the school district, whether in the 9th or not. And Linda–sorry, we probably got the best of him!!! Enjoy the time.
Congratulations Mike on the upcoming bundle of joy–good on you for being there. It is the harder job:)
John Marino is a first class guy, let’s support him.
Mike Protack
Congratulations on the endorsement John. I wished you lived in my district, I would vote for you.