Wilmington, DE – In his weekly message, Governor Markell recalls the economic hardship and uncertainty many Delawareans faced at the beginning of his term and credits the collaborative efforts of many individuals who helped build a stronger state that today positions Delawareans for success in the new economy.

“One of the more powerful images from the time immediately after I took office in the midst of a recession that put tens of thousands of people out of work was observing construction workers throw their shoes in frustration at Legislative Hall,” Governor Markell said. “They were calling on their elected officials to walk in the shoes of those suffering from the financial crisis and imploring us to address the pain that so many were experiencing. As the last year of my administration ends, I am most proud of how our state came together to respond to that challenge and to recognize that global forces stronger than a recession were affecting our people in new ways. I am confident that Governor-elect Carney is assembling a team that’s ready to continue to identify new solutions to position Delawareans for success in a changing world – to walk in their shoes and understand their realities. We have much to celebrate from the past year, and I know that our people have a bright and hopeful 2017 in front of them. I wish all of you a happy, healthy, and fulfilling new year, as we continue to keep Delaware moving forward.”

Every week, the Governor’s office releases a new Weekly Message in video, audio, and transcript form. The message is available on:

YouTube: https://youtu.be/9sKDz8YVKKo
Delaware.Gov: http://governor.delaware.gov/podcast_video.shtml
By email: Please contact our press team to subscribe to our press list
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/governormarkell
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/governormarkell

Transcript of Governor Markell’s Weekly Message: Building on success to position Delawareans for a promising 2017 and beyond

One of the more powerful images from the time immediately after I took office in the midst of a recession that put tens of thousands of people out of work was observing construction workers throw their shoes in frustration at Legislative Hall. They were calling on their elected officials to walk in the shoes of those suffering from the financial crisis and imploring us to address the pain that so many were experiencing.

As the last year of my administration ends, I am most proud of how our state came together to respond to that challenge and to recognize that global forces stronger than a recession were affecting our people in new ways.

We live in a new economy that requires us to think differently about promoting individual and collective prosperity. As noted author Tom Friedman wrote about the new workforce: those with the imagination to invent smarter ways to do old jobs will thrive. Government must respond in smarter ways that reflect these new realities. It means training students and workers in skills to compete in growing industries – like IT and health care; making it possible for all people to contribute, including more people with disabilities, returning veterans, and ex-offenders. It means opening new export markets to small businesses; and, as we did this past year, revising our tax system to ensure our businesses can compete.

Combined with the hard work and determination of so many Delawareans, these efforts have resulted in the region’s best job growth. I am confident that Governor-elect Carney is assembling a team that’s ready to continue to identify new solutions to position Delawareans for success in a changing world – to walk in their shoes and understand their realities.

We have much to celebrate from the past year, and I know that our people have a bright and hopeful 2017 in front of them. I wish all of you a happy, healthy, and fulfilling new year, as we continue to keep Delaware moving forward.

Dover, DE – The Office of Management and Budget today released a report commissioned by Governor Jack Markell earlier this year in an ongoing effort to build a welcoming work environment across State government that fully embraces diversity and equal opportunity for all employees.

“I have been clear that my administration is committed to ensuring that we foster a healthy, supportive, and responsive work environment for all State employees,” Governor Markell said. “Reports we received from faith leaders and the NAACP that state employees experienced a lack of support from their supervisors and organizational leadership, and felt race contributed to limited promotional opportunities were of concern to me.”

The Governor responded by encouraging State employees to participate in state-wide hearings conducted by the Delaware Faith in Action Council and the NAACP, and this past September commissioned Ivy Planning Group to conduct an independent, comprehensive review of State policies, procedures, and organizational structure and to make recommendations to guide the State’s equity, diversity and inclusion efforts.

Ivy’s work throughout the fall was informed by site visits across state agencies, survey responses from nearly 6,000 state employees, 110 focus groups and 144 interviews it conducted with demographically diverse groups of state employees and external stakeholders, and an analysis of State employment data. Ivy’s Report, presented this week, noted that the State government’s workforce reflects the diversity and demographic trends of Delaware, though there are areas of under-representation and opportunities for improvement. The report recognized the State’s successful efforts to increase employment of people with disabilities and to extend employment protections and marriage equality to the LGBTQ community. It documented the need for improvement within the State’s human resources systems and administrative practices, and proposed more than 40 recommendations to help State government better support diversity and inclusion. These recommendations included enhancing recruitment to attract diverse candidates, new efforts to prepare employees for advancement, ensuring that a diverse cross-section of employees are considered for promotion, increasing the capacity of supervisors to address informal employee complaints, and implementing mediation efforts to address formal grievances.

“I appreciate the willingness of so many state employees to complete the survey and share their experiences through interviews and focus groups, and also thank the community groups who offered their perspectives” the Governor said. “We value everyone’s participation in this process, which has led to the meaningful recommendations in this blueprint for action moving forward. By fulfilling our obligation to ask hard questions and make needed reforms, we will strengthen State government’s place as an employer of choice for Delawareans seeking impactful careers, and build a welcoming work environment that values and supports the talents and abilities of all our people.”

“We appreciate Governor Markell for his demonstrated commitment to diversity and inclusion, and for supporting this study. His insight has been invaluable,” said Gary A. Smith of Ivy Planning Group. “Delaware’s challenges are similar to many other organizations we’ve worked with, and we are optimistic that the State is well positioned to be a best practice for diversity and inclusion as well as a model for how to move beyond its historical challenges to realize its future potential.”

The full report from Ivy Planning Group is available online at: http://omb.delaware.gov/documents/DiversityInclusionStudy.pdf

Contact: Bert Scoglietti
(302) 672 5103

A 24-year-old Delmar woman will spend the next 15 years in prison for the murder of her child. Deputy Attorneys General Melanie Withers and Rebecca Anderson and Attorney General Matt Denn secured a guilty plea and sentence for Detoshia Spence. In April 2015, Spence reported finding her 3-year-old daughter dead on a couch in her home. Bruising on the child’s body, and other evidence led prosecutors to believe the child was repeatedly abused. Spence pled guilty to Murder by Abuse 2nd degree and to two counts of Child Abuse in the Second Degree. She was immediately sentenced by Superior Court Judge Scott Bradley to 15 years in prison, followed by 6 months of home confinement, then 2 years of probation.

Deputy Attorneys General Brian Robertson and Maria Knoll secured a guilty plea from Marcus Crews, 43, of Wilmington to Murder Second Degree and Robbery First Degree. In November 2014, Crews strangled a co-worker, Donald Smith, in Wilmington’s Eden Park while stealing the victim’s bicycle. In exchange for the plea, Crews agreed to a 35-year prison sentence recommendation. Crews will be sentenced by Superior Court Judge Richard Cooch in 2017.

Deputy Attorney General Danielle Brennan secured a plea from 42-year-old Susan Tompkins of Wilmington on charges of Operation of a Motor Vehicle Causing Death, and Driving Under the Influence. In December 2015, while driving through the intersection of West Ninth and North Lincoln streets in Wilmington, Tompkins’s car struck a pedestrian. Tompkins failed several field sobriety tests. The pedestrian, 59-year-old Joseph Smagala of Wilmington was taken to Christiana Care hospital where he died. Tompkins will be sentenced by Superior Court Judge Calvin Scott Jr. on January 20, 2017.

Deputy Attorney General Marc Petrucci secured a guilty plea and prison sentence for 26-year-old Keith Brandon of New Castle. In June 2016, members of the Delaware State Police Drug Task Force executed a search warrant at Brandon’s home on Booker Circle in New Castle, after observing him conduct a drug transaction. Inside Brandon’s room, police found 109.05 grams of heroin, 789.5 grams of marijuana, and almost $15,000 in cash. Brandon pled guilty to Drug Dealing Tier Four (Heroin) and was sentenced to 3 years in prison, followed by 1 year of probation. Brandon also forfeited the cash seized during arrest.

Reminder for the week: Purchase your 2017 Delaware fishing license starting Jan. 1

DOVER – To achieve public compliance through education and enforcement actions that help conserve Delaware’s fish and wildlife resources and ensure safe boating and public safety, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police officers between Dec. 19-25 made 710 contacts with anglers, hunters, boaters and the general public, including 38 vessel boardings for boating safety, hunting and fishing regulation compliance checks, issuing seven citations. Officers responded to 18 complaints regarding possible violations of laws and regulations or requests to assist the public. An increased Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police presence continued at the C&D Canal Conservation Area and associated recreational trail.

Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police Actions

Incident of note:

• On Dec. 20, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police arrested Mathew C. Ryan of Smyrna for unlawfully selling white perch without a commercial food fish license. An investigation revealed that Ryan sold 100 pounds of white perch to a seafood buyer in Milford on May 14, 2016, without having first obtained a 2016 Delaware commercial food fish license. Ryan was charged with one count of selling, trading or bartering food fish without a Delaware commercial food fish license. He was arraigned at Kent County Justice of the Peace Court 7 where he received probation before judgement and fined $240, including court costs.

Citations issued by category, with the number of charges in parentheses, included:

Wildlife Conservation: Possession of a loaded firearm in a motor vessel (1), possession of prohibited lead shot/shot size while hunting migratory waterfowl (1), shooting within 15 yards of a public roadway (1), and hunting with an unplugged shotgun capable of holding more than three shells (1).

Fisheries Conservation: Commercial: Horseshoe crab dredging without a Delaware horseshoe crab dredge permit (1), possession of undersized knobbed conch (1), and selling, trading or bartering food fish without a Delaware commercial food fish license (1).

Are you AWARE?
DNREC’s Division of Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police remind anglers that starting Jan. 1 it’s time to purchase their 2017 Delaware fishing licenses, as 2016 licenses expire Dec. 31. A valid fishing license is required for fishing, crabbing and clamming in Delaware in both tidal and non-tidal waters.

A resident annual fishing license costs $8.50 for ages 16 through 64. Anglers under the age of 16 and residents age 65 and older are not required to purchase fishing licenses in Delaware. Some requirements differ for non-resident anglers. Exempt persons may purchase fishing licenses if they so choose to help support fisheries management in Delaware.

Recreational anglers fishing Delaware waters also are required to obtain a Delaware Fisherman Information Network (F.I.N.) number, which is generated automatically on all individual fishing licenses sold through Delaware’s electronic licensing systems. License-exempt anglers, including Delaware residents 65 and older, non-resident boat fishing license holders who do not have an individual license and individuals fishing on licensed boats who do not have an individual license, must obtain their free F.I.N. number by visiting www.delaware-fin.com or calling 800-432-9228 toll-free.

Delaware fishing licenses are sold online, at the licensing desk in DNREC’s Richardson & Robbins Building, 89 Kings Highway, Dover, and by license agents statewide. To find a participating agent, or to purchase a license online, visit Delaware Licenses. For additional information on Delaware fishing licenses, call 302-739-9918.

DNREC’s Division of Fish & Wildlife recognizes and thanks the majority of anglers, hunters and boaters who comply with and support Delaware’s fishing, hunting and boating laws and regulations. Citizens are encouraged to report fish, wildlife and boating violations to the Delaware Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police by calling 302-739-4580. Wildlife violations may also be reported anonymously to Operation Game Theft by calling 800-292-3030 or online at http://de.gov/ogt.

Like Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police on Facebook, www.facebook.com/pages/Delaware-Fish-Wildlife-Natural-Resources-Police.

Follow Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police on Twitter, https://twitter.com/DE_FW_NRPolice.

Media contact: Sgt. John McDerby, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police, 302-739-9913 or 302-354-1386.

-30-