It's official: Treasurer Flowers quits race
Originally published Aug. 29, 2014
Delaware Treasurer Chip Flowers formally abandoned his re-election campaign Thursday, withdrawing from a Sept. 9 primary campaign against Democratic challenger Sean Barney.
Flowers called Elections Commissioner Elaine Manlove on Thursday to say he would stand by his plan to withdraw from the race, effective at 4 p.m. Thursday.
"I don't know what the drama was," said Manlove, the elections commissioner.
Flowers released a statement saying he has attempted to clear his name after his former deputy filed harassment complaints that remain the subject of a Dover police investigation.
Since announcing plans to forgo re-election on Aug. 15, Flowers said that "thousands of calls and emails have poured into the campaign requesting that I reconsider my decision.
"I realize many of you would like for me to keep my name on the ballot to ensure a victory through a strong protest vote. However, we must never forget what differs us from our opponents. We believe the way we win matters."
Flowers said his decision "was based on a need to put my family ahead of constantly battling deceptions, falsehoods and lies by my opponents that not only threatened my family and livelihood, but have also prevented our state from moving forward.
"My family name was untarnished when I received it at birth and I intend to pass it to my fiancée and our children in the same manner. I am very grateful to federal and local law enforcement officials who continue to work tirelessly to conclude this matter."
In a tearful press conference on Aug. 15, the treasurer pledged to abandon his re-election effort and Delaware altogether for a new life in Massachusetts.
"Politics is now my past," Flowers said. His delay in formally withdrawing his name from the race until Thursday — and from removing billboards and campaign signs from state roads — ignited speculation that he may seek re-election.
Flowers said he formally withdrew after "taking substantive steps with local law enforcement to clear my name from blatantly false claims put forth in our legal system 30 days before the election."
"We will issue something once we resolve the investigation involving Mr. Flowers," Dover police spokesman Cpl. Mark Hoffman said by email Thursday afternoon.
Manlove said elections officials would, at a minimum, place stickers over the names of Flowers and Barney on the Sept. 9 primary ballots.
Ballots in Sussex County could be replaced, Manlove said.
The executive committee of the Delaware Democratic Party held a special meeting after Flowers' announcement that he would not seek a second term and endorsed Democrat Sean Barney.
"The Delaware Democratic Party is behind Sean Barney fully," party chairman John Daniello said. "He will serve responsibly and honorably in the Treasurer's office and our focus is getting him elected in November."
Investment fund manager Ken Simpler and Milford businesswoman Sher Valenzuela will meet in the Republican primary for state treasurer on Sept. 9.
Flowers' former deputy, Erika Benner, first filed a harassment complaint with Dover Police after an incident involving Flowers and Benner's 16-year-old son before a Fourth of July parade in Dover.
"Tell him to come to my house," according to the text Benner provided that she said was sent by Flowers on the evening of July 4. "I picked up something from cabelas last week that should ude (sic) just fine. Tell him I'm begging him. He fu---- with the wrong ni---."
Benner went back to police early this month, saying that Flowers continued to contact her. Flowers claims he was the one who was harassed, saying Benner's son banged on his car before the Fourth of July parade and shouted a racial slur. He also claims Benner sought to contact him after filing the initial claim of harassment.
In a statement Thursday, Benner said, "Contrary to Chip Flowers' statement, this harassment claim has nothing to do with politics or the primary. I have absolutely no attachment to the so-called Democratic establishment or the Sean Barney campaign.
This is about doing what's right. As a single mother, I'm standing up to a manipulative former boss who has bullied me and threatened my son."
Contact Jonathan Starkey at (302) 983-6756, on Twitter @jwstarkey or at jstarkey@delawareonline.com.