Delaware Lieutenant Gubernatorial Debate: Everything You Need from July 15th
Debate Index for All Q&A
WILMINGTON, Del. – Last night, Kerwin Gaines, host of DETV’s The Agenda, served as the moderator for the 2024 Delaware Lieutenant Gubernatorial Debate. The debate took place at Canaan Baptist Church in Wilmington, Delaware. In attendance were candidates Ruth Briggs King, State Representative Sherry Dorsey Walker, and Senator Kyle Evans Gay. Candidate Dr. Debbie Harrington was not able to attend the previous debate due to a serious medical family emergency. Click here to watch the full debate from July 15th, 2024 on YouTube. All questions are listed below with the associated time stamp per candidate’s response.
Questions Discussed in Delaware Lieutenant Gubernatorial Debate
Questions are organized into the following categories: board of pardons, healthcare, candidate background and responsibilities, housing, and employment/economy.
Board of Pardons
As lieutenant governor, you’re responsible for chairing the board of pardons. What is your vision for the board under your leadership and how will you make it equitable?
Would you support adding non-state official sears to the Board of Pardons?
Healthcare
The healthcare disparity between black and brown people and other racial groups is large. For instance, despite accounting for 28% of live births, black women in Delaware represent 78% of the pregnancy related deaths. As Governor, what are your plans to lessen these kind of horrific disparities for black and brown people in the state of Delaware?
Background/Responsibilities
What would you say your greatest accomplishment was, or is, and how will you use your relationships to continue to move policy, even though you can only vote if it is a tie?
The lieutenant governor is first in line to replace the governor if for some reason the governor seat becomes open. Please explain why you believe you are best suited to step in as governor.
- Representative Ruth Briggs King response- 43:28
- Senator Kyle Evans Gay response- 44:36
- Representative Sherry Dorsey Walker response- 45:40
[How will you be an active member of the community and represent citizens?]
- Representative Sherry Dorsey Walker response- 1:06:18
- Senator Kyle Evans Gay response- 1:07:16
- Representative Ruth Briggs King response- 1:08:21
Housing
Over the past several years the Delaware rental market has become increasingly unaffordable for everyday families… What are your thoughts on rent stabilization laws that limit how high rent can be raised in a year?
Education
How do you plan to increase access to early care and education, recognizing its importance in shaping the future of our state, especially in black black and brown communities?
How are we going to help our public schools improve their reading, math, and critical thinking skills?
- Representative Ruth Briggs King response- 1:12:11
- Senator Kyle Evans Gay response- 1:13:31
- Representative Sherry Dorsey Walker response- 1:14:45
- Rebuttal by Representative Ruth Briggs King- 1:16:28
- Rebuttal by Representative Sherry Dorsey Walker- 1:17:21
- Rebuttal by Senator Kyle Evans Gay- 1:18:08
Employment/Economy
What is your plan as lieutenant governor to ensure small business owners get the best employees they can? [And how can you support people in Delaware seeking employment?]
- Senator Kyle Evans Gay response- 48:45
- Representative Sherry Dorsey Walker response- 50:20
- Representative Ruth Briggs King response- 51:28
- Rebuttal by Senator Kyle Evans Gay- 52:38
- Rebuttal by Representative Sherry Dorsey Walker- 53:15
How do you feel in regards to the [electric car] mandate that is giving incentives as well as tax credits and disadvantages to those that are on regular fossil fueled cars?
- Representative Ruth Briggs King response- 54:33
- Senator Kyle Evans Gay response- 55:47
- Representative Sherry Dorsey Walker response- 56:55
- Rebuttal by Representative Ruth Briggs King- 57:58
[What are your thoughts on] the problem that we’re having in regards to state employee staffing shortages as evidenced by the division of State service centers and the division of social services?
- Representative Sherry Dorsey Walker response- 59:10
- Senator Kyle Evans Gay response- 59:56
- Representative Ruth Briggs King response- 1:01:05
- Rebuttal by Representative Sherry Dorsey Walker- 1:02:07
- Rebuttal by Senator Kyle Evans Gay- 1:02:41
For more information, please see the candidates’ political platforms listed below.
Representative Ruth Briggs King – ruthfordelaware.com
Senator Kyle Evans Gay – kylefordelaware.com
Representative Sherry Dorsey Walker – sherrydorseywalker.com
Dr. Debbie Harrington – DebbieForDelaware
For more updates on the upcoming election, check out DETV News and The Agenda.
