Matt Meyer sits down to discuss campaign for governor, addresses legal issues

REHOBOTH BEACH, Del. – With less than a week left to go until Election Day, Delaware’s Democratic candidate for Governor, Matt Meyer sat down with WMDT News for an in-depth discussion about his campaign where he was pressed for answers on possible legal issues.

We met Meyer at a local restaurant in Rehoboth Beach for the interview where he took aim at his Republican opponent and State Representative Mike Ramone’s legislative record when it comes to voter rights.

“He really wants to restrict individuals right to vote. When no excuse absentee voting and early voting was passed through our state legislature, my opponent supported an effort to sue, to strike down these laws,” Meyer told our Rob Petree. “That’s not Delaware-yellow, that’s MAGA red.”

Meyer taking a jab at Ramone’s campaign messaging that paints him as a centrist, not Republican-red or Democratic-blue, but Delaware-yellow.

At the top of mind of voters across the First State is the issue of inflation, how expensive it has become to affordd everyday essentials such as gas and groceries. We asked Meyer what his plans were to improve the quality of life for Delawareans who are struggling to make ends meet. He cited a record of job creation in response.

“I’ve actually had executive experience creating jobs,” Meyer said. “As County Executive, we put in place land-use policies that created, brought companies here, expanding companies here, creating over 13,000 jobs.”

Meyer also wants to take hard look at affordability when it comes to housing.

“The rent is too damn high,” he said emphatically. “We’re gonna give local jurisdictions, your local county, your local town, incentives to change laws to make it so you can add a rental unit onto your property.”

As a former educator, Meyer vows to bring new resources into Delaware classrooms along with better pay. School districts across the state are struggling with a severe shortage of teachers, an issue Meyer says he will address if elected.

“You have situations like in the Laurel School District where they’ve gone to COVID-style asynchronous learning, virtual learning because they can’t get enough teachers,” Meyer explained. “In 21st century Delaware, that’s not acceptable, and there’s going to be new leadership that does do things a little bit differently.”

While Meyer was successful in his bid for the Democratic nomination – it hasn’t been smooth-sailing. In the weeks leading up to the primary election, he was named in a lawsuit alleging he permitted a sanctuary of sexual harassment and that the County Administration continues to, quote: “remain a safe harbor for dominant male employees in positions of power and authority to sexually harass female employees.”

“What is your response to that lawsuit that you’ve been named in – were you aware of those allegations at the time?” News Anchor Rob Petree asked Meyer.

“In the lawsuit you’re referring to, I get sued all the time, this lawsuit was a couple weeks before the election,” Meyer said in response. “I was named in a sexual harassment lawsuit where the individual who actually is accused of sexually harassing someone was not named. There were allegations of text messages sent outside of work, lewd text messages sent by one county worker to another. The individual was disciplined, that discipline is being reviewed, and we’re making sure that every person is held to account.”

Meyer tells us his lawyers have since moved to remove his name from the case. Still not answering whether or not he knew about the allegations, Petree pressed further: “So, were you, or were you not, aware of that at the time when it happened?”

“I was not aware of it,” Meyer said in response.

In the weeks leading up to the general election, Meyer has been criticized over the number of out of state contributions to Political Action Committees that benefit his campaign.

“We’re serving the people,” Meyer said in response. “The millions of dollars in PAC money, I don’t even know what some of these PACs are. I don’t know why they support me. I assure Delawareans, I personally will do anything within my power to change this system to eliminate corporate contributions, to eliminate unlimited PAC contributions.”

Despite the criticism and potential legal issues, Meyer tells us he remains focused on winning and that, if elected, he promises to make a difference in Delaware.

“I’m gonna be there saying, no, we’re gonna make it work,” Meyer said. “It’s about the public trust, it’s about all of us investing together, looking each other in the eye, saying this is America and in America and in Delaware we’re gonna make it work. That’s the kind of leadership you’re gonna have.”

Meyer is facing Republican candidate and House Minority Leader Mike Ramone in the general election this coming Tuesday, November 5, 2024. The winner will replace outgoing Governor John Carney.