Meet the candidates: Republican candidates for Delaware’s 41st House district
Frankford, Del. – With Rep. Rich Collins stepping down from representing Delaware’s 41st House district, three candidates, John Atkins, Doug Conaway, and Jacki Slonin, are vying for the Republican nomination ahead of the primaries next month.
On Tuesday, the Delaware State Chamber of Commerce hosted a forum where DSCC COO Kelly Basil asked each candidate about their stances on any proposed tax increases, population demographics, school spending, data center development, infrastructure needs and child care.
DSCC officials said, for each forum they hold, candidates will individually respond to the same business-related questions delivered in the same order with each candidate receiving the same amount of time to answer each.
Officials with the chamber of commerce said the most important part of the forum was enabling candidates to deep dive into top priorities in an informative way.
“The feedback we’ve received from people who have attended, you know, they walk away knowing the candidates a lot better,” Basil said in an interview with WMDT. “The hope is that they can walk away from today and feel confident in the person that they’re voting for.”
John Atkins
Atkins is a former House delegate who previously served the 41st district for 12 years before resigning in 2007 over a domestic violence charge. In 2014, he lost the Republican nomination to Collins.
His priorities include easing burdens on small businesses and making common-sense cuts to raise state revenue.
“I have a passion to serve. That’s why I’m doing it. And, again, I think experience matters. Hitting the ground on day one,” he said to attendees.
Doug Conaway
Conaway is an Army veteran whose priorities are growing infrastructure through roadways, schools and medical facilities.
“We know the majority of the people coming to Delaware are 65 and older retirees. So we know we need medical facilities. We know that we need people to work here. So we have to get our schools in line too,” he said.
Jacki Slonin
Slonin is an entrepreneur and says she prioritizes collaboration and policies that help businesses succeed.
“For our business community, that means having things like infrastructure, reliable, affordable energy and skilled workforce housing,” she said.
Basil said the DSCC will host another forum for the General Election after the primary, after which the Republican nominee will face off against Ryan Stuckey, the uncontested Democratic nominee for House District 41.
