Election Notes

The election is over and we have changes in administrations nationally and in the state of Delaware. Some notes follow.

• Joe Biden moves from DE senator to the vice president. This should give a voice to many of the concerns of Delawareans at the highest level.
• Delaware will have a new senator to represent the state, once appointed to fill Biden's term. This choice will also have significant impacts on the state and the horticultural business community.
• Delaware has a new governor, Jack Markell. He has been actively seeking input from the business community. It is up to all in the green industry to help shape the new administration's business policies.
• Delaware will have a new Secretary of Agriculture appointed by Governor Elect Markell. Other important Secretarial positions will likely change. These are also important decisions that will have significant impacts on the horticultural community.

Gordon Johnson, Extension Horticulture Agent, UD, Kent County

Vote Today

It is important for all eligible voters to exercise their right to vote today. For those in the Horticultural community, many factors will influence the decision apart from straight party loyalty. Some thoughts follow:

• Consider the candidates knowledge of the green industry. Are they informed? What are their positions on horticultural industry issues? Are your interests and the interests of your family well served by their positions? Are the larger business community's interests well served by their positions? Do their positions benefit the best interests of the broader community at large?
• Will the candidates seek a wide range of input from the horticultural community on those issues affecting green industry related businesses? Who will they appoint to key positions affecting the green industry?
• Will the candidates support continued funding of horticultural research, important agencies and organizations serving the green industry, and other important programs affecting horticultural businesses?

Jenny Rhodes, Queen Annes County Agricultural Agent with the University of Maryland, sent out a link to a very interesting web site that compares presidential candidates positions on family related issues. Here is this information:

The following is a website you may want to read about family related issues and the presidential candidates. The family issues voting guide was prepared by family policy doctoral students in the Department of Family Science at the University of Maryland School of Public Health.
http://www.sph.umd.edu/fmsc/fis/documents/2008FamilyElectionGuide.pdf

Gordon Johnson, Extension Horticulture Agent, UD, Kent County