Category — Policy Plans

Jack Markell unveiled his strategy to get guns off the streets today in front of Helen Chambers Park on Madison Street in Wilmington. Public safety advocates, religious leaders, and concerned citizens and supporters came out to hear Jack’s response to the recent escalation of gun violence.

Elder Ty Johnson introduces Jack at the Wilmington press conference

Standing just a few blocks from the site of last week’s fatal shooting of an 18-year-old man, Jack told the crowd that as governor he will do everything he can to target gun violence and stop the senseless loss of life. His plan includes getting repeat offenders off the streets, giving Wilmington the authority to restrict guns, closing the “Gun Show Loophole,” limiting bulk purchasing and banning assault weapons, among other proposals. In addition to these ideas, Jack stressed the importance of preventing violence with the creation of more jobs, an improved public school system and by engaging parents in the lives of their children.

“Jack’s proposals are about our families, about our children and about our future,” said Sarah Brady, founder of the nationally renowned Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence. “You can’t have stronger families without safer children, and the protections Jack will support as governor will keep guns out of the hands of criminals and out of the hands of children. These are common-sense steps Delaware must take to ensure that firearms do not land in the wrong hands.”

Stop 57: Odessa
Our final stop of the tour was Odessa where Jack met up with supporters outside Lorenzo’s Pizza. Thanking everyone, Jack summed up the reason for the tour, “I intend to the be the Governor of all Delawareans, and I think it only fitting that I announce my candidacy by going to every single town and giving every single Delawarean the opportunity to come and speak to me.” The Odessa stop was a perfect end to an amazing tour and a perfect beginning for the months ahead!

Jack with supporters in Odessa

Stop 56: Townsend
Townsend was our second to last stop of the tour. Jack stopped at Willey Farms on Rt 13. and spoke with supporters and customers. Before leaving, Jack bought a bag of delicious Bing Cherries to share with his volunteers.

Stop 55: Leipsic
Then it was on to Leipsic where Jack met with several supporters and residents in front of Sambo’s Tavern on the water.

Stop 54: Cheswold
Jack enjoyed a delicious pizza with supporters at Antony’s Pizza in Cheswold. Following the meal, Jack met with Mayor Donald Tinari, an energetic supporter of Jack’s campaign.

Stop 53:Kenton
Next up was Kenton where Jack visited the Country Store on Main St. and spoke with the owner of the store for a few minutes about business and economic development.

Stop 52: Hartly
Jack stopped at Antonio’s Pizza and Gas Station and talked with the owner and local residents.

Jack at Antonio’s Pizza in Hartly

Stop 51: Wyoming
We pulled up to Wyoming Park just as the rain started. Jack spoke under a gazebo to almost a dozen supporters and thanked them for braving the rainy weather. Jack told the group about people he had met from all over the state during his tour and their desire to see Delaware move in a bold, new direction in issues like health care, economic development and education.

Stop 50: Little Creek
Our 51st tour stop was Little Creek where Jack met with supporters and greeted customers at the Little Creek Deli, where he stopped last year during the second leg of the Tour de Delaware. Jack spoke with residents of Little Creek about education and the need to reform the unpopular Delaware Standardized Testing Program. His plan to scrap the current test and replace it with a comprehensive growth measure test was met with unanimous approval by the parents and grandparents at the Deli.

Stop 49: Magnolia
After just missing the rain, Jack stopped in Magnolia and was greeted by almost two dozen supporters who had gathered around the town sign. Jack spoke about the changing demographics of the state and the challenges we face as our population ages rapidly and answered questions about Delaware’s budget, deferred compensation, and consolidating purchases in the public school system.

After speaking to supporters, Jack shook hands and spoke to patrons at the Magnolia Diner. He answered questions on economic development and health care, giving out several copies of his book, Blueprint For A Better Delaware.

Jack talking with patrons at the Magnolia Diner

Stop 48: Camden
Jack stopped in Camden and had breakfast with supporters at Bob Evans. Over a plate of eggs, Jack talked about education, new innovative technologies, and his motivation for entering politics.

Stop 47: Woodside
After a quick drive from Viola to Woodside, Jack stopped at the Post Office to meet up with supporters. A nice couple stopped by on their way to feed a stray kitten, and described to Jack how they felt Delaware needs to move in a “bold, new direction.”

Jack in Woodside

Stop 46: Viola
Our first stop on our last day was in the beautiful town of Viola. Jack arrived at about 9 am at the Viola Post Office, surprised to find some of his energetic supporters playing catch with their lacrosse sticks. Although accustomed to the male lacrosse sticks with larger pockets, Jack picked up one the sticks and joined in. Following a few throws, Jack thanked his supporters and Levy Court candidate Jody Sweeney for stopping by.

Jack in Viola with Jody Sweeney, candidate for Levy Court

Stop 30:
The final stop and parade for the Fourth was the Dover Parade and Fireworks. Jack, followed by almost two dozen supporters, marched down State St. Cheers and shouts of “we back Jack” could be heard throughout the parade route. The parade ended on the green in front of Legislative Hall where Jack thanked supporters for a great day and spoke of his excitement for the next two days of the tour.

Stop 29:
Jack stopped in Newark to continue the day’s festivities with friends and supporters at the Newark Fourth of July celebration.

Jack and supporters at the Newark Fourth of July celebration

Hockessin was the next parade of the day. Jack was greeted by almost 50 supporters wearing Markell shirts near the St. Mary of Assumption church. With the route lined with Markell stickers, Jack marched to the chants of “We Back Jack” following him down Old Lancaster Pike.

Jack marching in the Hockessin Fourth of July Parade

Stop 28:
We made it to Bethany Beach right on schedule, and met up with our team of over two dozen volunteers to march in the parade looping around the town. Jack saw supporters along the route, including the enthusiastic woman he sees every year with her Markell for Governor sign in hand!

Stop 25: Laurel
To cap off the wonderful day, Jack marched in the annual Laurel Fourth of July Parade with dozens of volunteers. Jack shook hands with the thousands of parade-goers, many showing their support by sporting Markell t-shirts and stickers.

Stop 24: Seaford
Following the five minute drive across the river to Seaford, Jack had a slice of pizza at the packed Pizza King where the topic of conversation was affordable housing and access to quality health care. Coincidentally, Jack ran into the grandparents of one of our great Newark interns, Laura.

Jack shaking hands at the Laurel Fourth of July Parade

Stop 23: Blades
Our 12th stop of the day was Blades. Jack sat with about a dozen patrons of Marina’s Bar and discussed taxes, real estate, and the sub-prime mortgage crisis.

Stop 22: Bethel
Jack met with the Mayor of Bethel, Jeffrey Hastings, at Jeff’s Greenhouse, his business of 30 years.

Stop 21: Delmar
Traveling along the Delaware-Maryland border, our next stop was Delmar. Jack greeted dozens of young people in the State St. park.

Stop 20: Selbyville
Next it was time for Selbyville. Jack visited the busy Food Lion to shake hands as people stocked up on Fourth of July supplies.

Stop 19: Frankford
Next up was Frankford. Our first stop in Frankford was the local town public library. Jack spoke to residents about education and the need for libraries to foster communities of education. He then walked over to the Frankford Volunteer Fire Company and spoke with men and women working there.

Jack at the Frankford Public Library

Stop 18: Dagsboro
Stop number six was Dagsboro. Jack had lunch with supporters at the Dagsboro Cafe, now under excellent new management! He then walked across the street to Farm Fresh Produce and bought their delicious peaches.

Jack with the owners of the Dagsboro Cafe

Stop 17: Millsboro
Millsboro was next on our trip across Delaware. Jack met up and spoke with residents, including Millsboro Mayor Gum, at a local restaurant called Georgia House. The Mayor and other patrons shared with Jack some of the issues the community has been focusing on, including water and sewer systems.

Stop 16: Georgetown
Next, it was time for our Georgetown office grand opening! Sussex County Organizer Extraordinaire Lauren Mazzato organized the event with 50 supporters from the Georgetown area in attendance. Supporters enjoyed sandwiches and chips while listening to Jack deliver a rousing speech and answer questions on issues ranging from the environment to cancer.

Stop 15: Bridgeville
Bridgeville was our fourth stop of the day. Jack shook hands and spoke with about 35 patrons of Jimmy’s Grille, discussing with them his vision for a better Delaware. Going table to table, Jack came across the grandfather and uncle of one of our great interns, Chelsea, enjoying their “home made” meals from Jimmy’s. One woman was intrigued by Jack’s bold health care plan, another told Jack that he had “her vote, that [he] didn’t even have to ask.”

Stop 14: Greenwood
Our next stop was Greenwood, where we met up with Mayor Willard Russell at the town’s Municipal Building. Jack spoke with residents about his vision for Delaware and fielded questions, including an excellent question from an especially intelligent 11 year old.

Stop 13: Farmington
Stop number three for the day was just down the road in Farmington where Jack met with the Mayor and Vice Mayor at the Farmington Volunteer Fire Company. Before heading to our next stop, Jack pulled over at Diamond State Machinery to shake hands with the employees. When introducing himself to one of the employees, the man said, “Jack Markell, my wife, who works for the Department of Education in Dover, always mentions you!”

Jack in Farmington

Stop 12: Houston
The second stop of the day was in Houston, DE, a small town east of Harrington. Jack met with voters at the Williamsville Country Store, the second visit Jack has made to that store in recent years. Echoing the feelings of many others in the State, local voters emphasized the need for change and proactive leadership to help the real estate industry and spur economic growth. Jack ended the event by sharing what he views the role of the office of Governor to be, “Delaware needs a Governor who knows that one of his most important responsibilities is to be the chief sales person for the State.”

Jack in Houston

Stop 11: Harrington
Day two started out with an early start. Jack joined the Harrington Rotary Club and a dozen volunteers and supporters, including Mayor Gene Price for breakfast.

While discussing issues and the campaign, Jack told the crowd that this race is going to be won one vote at a time, by traveling across the state, by phone calls and door knocking, and by word of mouth. To make the point heard, longtime support Don Poore described a recent experience that led him to winning a vote for Jack. After bringing gas to a stranded motorist on Rt. 14, Don handed the man a piece of Markell literature and asked the stranger if he would support Jack. The man told Don, “A friend of yours is a friend of mine!”

Jack Markell released his education plan focusing on school resources and accountability on Tuesday in front of Newark High School, where he graduated in 1978. The last in his five-part education series, Jack’s school resources and accountability plan focuses on scrapping the controversial state standardized testing system and replacing it with an adaptive test. Additionally, Jack said he will ensure education dollars are spent wisely - providing parents and other taxpayers information on how the money is used - while examining the state’s school choice and charter school policies.

Jack Markell laid out his “Building on the Basics” blueprint for creating better schools in Delaware on Friday. Standing outside the Department of Education’s offices in Dover, Jack discussed how his plan will attract a new generation of high quality teachers by offering additional incentives to keep them in Delaware. The plan, which is the fourth of Jack’s five-prong education platform, also focuses on promoting after-school programs and special education.

Jack Markell released his early childhood education policy today at the Newark Day Nursery and Children’s Center. Following the release of his proposal to broaden the reach of higher education and create a highly educated workforce , Jack’s policy to help children start school on the right foot is the third in his five-part plan dedicated to establishing a world-class education system in Delaware.

Speaking to early education providers, Jack laid out his vision of increasing parental involvement, reducing the achievement gap and improving early childhood education programs in the state. Jack believes ensuring that each child begins school ready to learn is one of the most important improvements we can make to the education system.

To accomplish this goal, Jack is proposing significantly increasing the state’s subsidy to care providers for low-income children, which will help centers like the Newark Day Nursery continue to provide quality instruction and recruit and retain top-notch teachers.

Jack reads Dr. Seuss to a class at the Newark Day Nursery and Children’s Center.

Jack Markell unveiled his Plan for Broadening the Reach for Higher Education today amidst a crowd of students and professors at Trabant, University of Delaware’s student union.

The higher education policy, which is the first in Jack’s five-part education series, outlines the expansion of the state-funded SEED scholarship to include four-year Bachelor Degrees. It also includes plans to strengthen research and development programs at the University of Delaware and Delaware State University.

Jack sees giving Delawareans greater access to higher education, while at the same time striving to bring in more research grants to the universities, as a major source of potential economic development.

Delaware students who cannot go to college will earn significantly less than those who graduate from an institution of higher learning. Statistics indicate that in 2004 adults with a Bachelor’s Degree earned on average over $20,000 per year more than those with a high school diploma and $30,000 more per year than high school drop outs. That earning gap is only increasing.

“Right now, a college education is out of reach for too many Delawareans because they cannot afford it,” Jack said during the news conference at Trabant. “I want to change that.”

Jack Markell unveiled his Public Safety and Crime Prevention Plan on Thursday in front of the Family Courthouse in Dover. The Crime Prevention plan, which came on the heels of Jack’s Making our Communities Safer by Investing in People policy, focuses on expanding and strengthening Delaware’s police force while tightening gun control and drunk driving laws.

Read more on Jack’s plan here.

Today Jack Markell wrote a letter to the Department of Transportation urging them to reconsider their decision not to pursue funding for a Sunday bus service throughout the state. In his letter, Jack cited that the Sunday bus service would serve as an invaluable resource to the state’s population, which is growing older at a faster rate than other states. He also noted the positive environmental and economic impact additional Sunday public transit would provide, allowing those with cars to conserve gas and energy while giving people without vehicles an opportunity to work, worship or continue with other daily activities. To read Jack’s letter, click “continue reading” below.
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