By Joe Rogalsky,
Delaware State News
DOVER — Three of the seven people Gov. Ruth Ann Minner tabbed to conduct an independent investigation of the Delaware Correctional Center have donated to her re-election effort, a review of her campaign finance reports showed.
A representative of a good-government group questioned the appointments Friday, saying the presence of Minner supporters could tarnish the group's findings.
Gov. Minner established the task force to review security issues at the prison surrounding a July 12 incident where an inmate took a counselor hostage for nearly seven hours and raped her.
The inmate was fatally shot to end the standoff.
The governor announced the panel's formation hours after the Department of Correction released an internal investigation Wednesday showing security lapses likely allowed the inmate into an office area where he grabbed the counselor.
The governor announced six selections Thursday afternoon and on Friday picked Guy H. Sapp to fill the seventh slot. The panel's report is due Jan. 31.
Mr. Sapp retired as Wilmington's police chief in 1993 and became the director of the state's Youth Rehabilitative Services later that year. In 1998, he became executive director of the Domestic Violence Coordinating Council.
He left that post in 2000 when he was appointed director of special court services for the Family Court of Delaware, his current job.
Of those named to the panel, Milford attorney Brian Shirey ($1,200), Dover attorney Rebecca Batson Kidner ($1,200) and Wilmington attorney Thomas McGonigle ($500) gave money to the governor's re-election campaign.
Retired Superior Court Judge Vincent A. Bifferato Sr.; former Court of Chancery Chancellor Grover Brown; Tony Allen, former executive director of the Metropolitan Wilmington Urban League; and Mr. Sapp did not donate to the Minner campaign.
None of the members has contributed money to Gov. Minner's opponents, Republican William Swain Lee or Frank Infante, who is running on the Independent Party and Libertarian Party tickets.
Gov. Minner did not respond to the Delaware State News' request for an interview Friday.
Instead, gubernatorial spokeswoman Kathleen L. Bailey sent a two-sentence prepared statement addressing the campaign contributors being on the task force.
"I appointed a panel of well-respected community leaders with unquestioned integrity and impeccable credentials," the governor said in the statement.
"Their reputation in the community and professional experience make them an obvious choice for this important task."
John Flaherty, lobbyist for the government watchdog group Common Cause Delaware, criticized the choices.
Having financial supporters of the governor on the panel, he said, could taint the panel's findings.
"All three are good people, but it does set up an appearance issue," Mr. Flaherty said.
"Certainly, you would expect an independent evaluation by people who are disconnected from the political process. It is going to be a challenge for this committee to dispel the appearance issues.
"People want an independent look at our prison system."
Mr. Lee, who has criticized the governor's handling of prison issues, said he had full confidence in her choices. Mr. Lee, a retired Superior Court judge, works in the same law firm as Mr. Bifferato. Mr. Bifferato's son, Ian, donated $1,200 to Gov. Minner's re-election campaign.
"I know all of the people on the list," Mr. Lee said.
"I have no doubt about their personal integrity. I am impressed by the quality of those on the task force. It is not a typical Minner task force."
Mr. Lee did criticize Gov. Minner for waiting nearly three months after the July 12 incident to authorize an independent investigation. He said the panel should include more than one woman and have members with experience in the correctional field.
"It would be better if the governor had not waited so the results of the investigation would not impact her re-election campaign," he said.
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Staff writer Joe Rogalsky can be reached at 741-8226 or jrogalsky@newszap.com.
