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20th Senatorial |
John Rieley 5,817 votes Albert Gargano 207 votes William Winkler 146 votes Photo: George H. Bunting Jr. George H. Bunting Jr. emerged from a crowded 20th Senatorial District field to hold on to his seat with an easy victory.
"I think it was a very, very good race," said Bunting. "It's a humbling experience." Bunting, a 57-year-old Democrat, cited the state's budget problems, his district's police and road problems, and manufactured housing tenants' rights as primary issues in his campaign. A farmer making his first run for public office, Rieley campaigned on preserving Sussex County's quality of life. The 47-year-old Millsboro Republican also pledged fiscal responsibility and accountability, improved education, responsible growth and development, and a Right to Work law that would prevent unions for forcing workers to contribute to union-backed candidates. Gargano bolted the Democratic Party before the September primary to run in the Independent Party to ensure he would make it to the General Election in his first stab at elected office. A 56-year-old retired police officer from Millsboro, he said building adequate infrastructure before developing, equalizing day-care funding throughout the state, education, and affordable health and prescription insurance were his top priorities. Winkler was also running for office for the first time. A 54-year-old Ocean View resident and environmental activist, Winkler proposed a building moratorium in eastern Sussex County until all existing homes were served by public sewer, preservation of agriculture, promotion of aquaculture, mandatory recycling, and installation of a warning system on the Indian River Inlet bridge to monitor it for breaks. |
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Bunting totalled 9,046 votes for 59.5 percent of the vote. Challengers John L. Rieley, Al Gargano and William Winkler finished well behind, with Rieley earning 5,817 votes for 38.2 percent.