Termed-out Gov. John Carney unexpectedly responded to Wilmington Mayor Mike Purzycki’s Wednesday retirement announcement by revealing that he was interested in running next year to succeed his fellow Democrat as leader of the First State’s largest city.
“Tracey and I have lived in Wilmington for thirty years, and I care deeply about our city,” the governor said. “While I am focused on serving as Delaware’s Governor, it’s something I’m seriously considering.” The Delaware News Journal writes, “It would be the first time, in recent memory, a Delaware politician has sought this office after serving as governor.”
Indeed, I am hard pressed to think of a similar situation. So I researched it. California Governor Jerry Brown originally served as Govenor from 1975 until 1983. He took some time off from politics, like 16 years, and then returned to run for the Mayor of Oakland, California, which he won and served from 1999 until 2007. He of course went on to become Attorney General of California and then returned to the Governorship for a second two term stint from 2011 until 2019. But an immediate “step down,” where an incumbent Governor, while still serving as Governor, is running to become a Mayor? I think that is unprecedented.
I wanted Eugne Young to run, but of course he no longer lives in Wilmington, and he has his eyes on another job at the moment. Well, if a Carney run prevents a Potter or a Potter ally from winning the job, I guess I have to be for it.
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