$1 Million PAC Effort Launched Against Governor John Carney to Hold Him Accountable for Failures in Criminal Justice Reform and Covid-19 Response by Citizens for a Pro-Business Delaware

WILMINGTON, Del.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Today, the grassroots advocacy organization Citizens for a Pro-Business Delaware announced the creation of a Political Action Committee that will work to hold Governor John Carney accountable for his failures on issues including police reform, judicial accountability, and his administration’s disastrous response to COVID-19 which has put communities of color and prisoners in the State’s Correctional facilities at significant risk.

The PAC, Citizens for Transparency and Inclusion, expects to spend upwards of $1 million ahead of the coming Primary Election in September and General Election in November. The PAC will launch this week with a $150,000 commercial ad buy slamming the Governor.

Said Citizens for a Pro-Business Delaware Campaign Manager Chris Coffey, “From his first day in office, Governor John Carney has consistently shown the Delawareans he claims to represent that the only thing he cares about is protecting the status quo that keeps entrenched interests in power, while those in need continue to struggle.

“While our most vulnerable communities have been left defenseless in the fight against police brutality, and as 9 Delaware citizens have been shot and killed by police officers with impunity during his term, what has Governor Carney done to keep our neighborhoods safe from those who are supposed to protect us? Why is it that under his ‘leadership,’ people of color make up over 60% of Delaware's prison population, but only 15% of judges on the state’s top courts? Why did Governor Carney simply shift diversity from the state’s Chancery Court to the state’s Supreme Court, leaving Chancellor Bouchard with an all-white Chancery Court once again?

“Can anyone explain how his administration continues to allow millions of dollars in contracts and no-bid legal fees to be given to scandal-ridden firms like Skadden Arps by Delaware’s government and courts? Why is Governor Carney so afraid to stand up to the legal and corporate insiders that make up the state’s ruling class?

“And as nearly 600 Delaware citizens have died of Covid-19, disproportionately poor and people of color, while over 14,000 have gotten sick, why hasn’t Governor Carney put together a meaningful plan to address Covid-19 in this state?

“As Governor Carney travels across Delaware looking for votes, he must be held accountable to his voters. The ‘Delaware Way’ of rich, white men ruling the State government and judiciary must end, and communities of color must be represented and supported. We’re launching this PAC to make that happen.”