By Joe Rogalsky,
Delaware State News
WILMINGTON - Leading Republican lawmakers questioned Democratic Gov. Ruth Ann Minner's public safety record on Tuesday, highlighting issues within the Delaware State Police and the state's prison system.
With GOP gubernatorial candidate William Swain Lee standing alongside, House Speaker Rep. Terry R. Spence, R-New Castle, and House Majority Leader Rep. Wayne A. Smith, R-Wilmington, said Gov. Minner has neglected the state's safety needs during her four years in office.
Gov. Minner fired back that she has been active in public safety issues, most notably making a series of improvements in response to the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
Rep. Spence criticized the governor for not supporting his proposal in June to add 53 new troopers to the state police over two years. It would have cost $1.3 million in fiscal 2005 and $4 million in fiscal 2006.
The speaker also said the governor should have already implemented additional measures to deal with the correctional officer staffing shortage.
"Ensuring the safety of our state, our homes and our families is the basis for society," Rep. Spence said during a news conference outside Gander Hill Prison in Wilmington.
"Unfortunately, the last four years have been marred by a series of public safety failures by the current administration. The governor has been unwilling to take the steps to avoid a public safety crisis.
"Public safety has been placed at the bottom of this administration's concerns. We need to do more. Under Bill Lee's administration, this state is going to put public safety at the top where it belongs. We are going to provide safe streets and a safe state."
Gov. Minner, in a statement released by her campaign, listed a series of public safety steps her administration has taken.
"We have put efforts and money into the public safety and homeland security areas over the last four years," Gov. Minner said.
"We created the Department of Safety and Homeland Security following September 11th, rewrote our state emergency plans to respond to a potential terrorist attack and trained thousands of Department of Health and Social Services, medical personnel and citizens in terrorism preparedness.
"We fixed problems with the 800-megahertz radio system that firefighters, police and other emergency responders use every day and this year put $12 million into expanding and upgrading that system - something the legislature heartily supported."
Gov. Minner defended her record on police, noting the fiscal 2005 budget includes her $1.2 million recommendation to add 20 troopers to the state police.
Rep. Spence's plan would have added the 53 troopers on top of what Gov. Minner proposed. In her statement, Gov. Minner outlined several police-related initiatives.
"We've put new troopers in Sussex, new resource officers in schools and added probation officers," Gov. Minner said.
"We've also passed .08 (blood-alcohol limit for drivers), primary seat belt and legislation cracking down on terroristic threatening as ways to make people more safe in Delaware."
Gov. Minner's response to the July 12 incident at Delaware Correctional Center where a counselor was taken hostage and raped has been the top issue in the campaign in recent weeks.
The news conference sought to play on that issue by also calling into question Gov. Minner's handling of the state police, which have been beset by a series of lawsuits alleging various forms of discrimination and retaliation.
In a July 16 Delaware State News article defending the Department of Correction, Gov. Minner said "in prisons, you almost expect this to happen." Mr. Lee has seized on that quote as evidence the incumbent has not done enough to improve the prison system.
"What's going to happen Nov. 2 is going to represent a new day for Delaware, it is going to represent us entering the 21st century with the opportunities and the desire and the resources to make a difference in this state," Mr. Lee said.
Gov. Minner has since appointed an outside panel to investigate the incident, but three of the seven members gave the maximum $1,200 to her re-election campaign.
Rep. Spence questioned the independence of the group and said he may call for a legislative investigation if he is not satisfied with the panel's report, which is due Jan. 31.
Gov. Minner has said several times she was discussing training issues and that the Delaware State News took her quote out of context, even though a campaign ad claims she never made the remark.
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Staff writer Joe Rogalsky can be reached at 741-8226 or jrogalsky@newszap.com.
Reposted with persmission from newszap.com
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