Secretary of State Jeffrey Bullock has suspended the Delaware certified massage technician license of Robert D. Leech for engaging in inappropriate sexual contact with massage clients.

In making this determination, Secretary Bullock considered a complaint filed by the Delaware Department of Justice. The complaint states that Mr. Leech used his position to impose unwelcome sexual acts upon numerous clients. Four victims filed reports with the Delaware State Police following the incidents. Additionally, Mr. Leech engaged in operating an unlicensed massage establishment.

The order suspending Mr. Leech’s license was signed by the secretary on December 29, 2023, with the concurrence of the president of the Delaware Board of Massage and Bodywork.

Delaware Code Title 24 enables a temporary suspension pending a hearing to be issued upon the written order of the Secretary of State if the activity of the licensee presents a clear and immediate danger to public health, safety, or welfare.

The suspension of Mr. Leech will remain in effect for a period of 60 days, during which time disciplinary hearings will be held or the final disposition for this individual will take place. As the result of a hearing, the Board of Massage and Bodywork has the authority to impose disciplinary sanctions up to and including revocation of a practitioner’s license.

The licensure status of Mr. Leech has been updated on the Division of Professional Regulation’s online license verification service. Documentation related to this suspension also may be viewed at this site.

A copy of the suspension order can be found here.

Delaware Secretary of State Jeff Bullock has placed xylazine, also known as “Tranq”— a non-opioid drug used primarily in veterinary medicine—in Schedule III of the Uniform Controlled Substance Act. Tranq has been used increasingly as an additive in opioid abuse to create a “zombie-like” condition for users. Secretary Bullock’s actions follow a recommendation from the Delaware Controlled Substance Advisory Committee on May 5, 2023, to adopt an emergency regulation placing xylazine in Scheduled III to protect the public and address the dangers posed by the drug.

“Xylazine is a powerful animal sedative with beneficial uses in veterinary medicine. But when abused by people, the consequences can be devastating. This order is not designed to interfere with the legitimate veterinary uses of xylazine but can help to reduce its abuse as ‘tranq’ when it’s used by humans, often as an additive in opioid abuse,” said Secretary of State Jeff Bullock. “This order will allow state and federal policymakers the time needed to identify permanent solutions to the growing problem of xylazine abuse in our communities.”

Known under the street names “tranq”, “tranq dope”, “sleep cut”, “Philly dope”, and “zombie drug”, xylazine has not been approved for human use. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has warned that the animal sedative is not safe for use in humans and may result in serious and life-threatening side effects. When used in conjunction with an opioid, xylazine may worsen respiratory depression in the event of a drug overdose. Xylazine use may be accompanied by skin ulcers with wounds that secrete puss, decaying tissue and bacterial infections which can lead to amputations at higher rates than other injectable drugs.

Since xylazine is not an opioid, opioid-reversing medications such as naloxone (Narcan) will not reverse the effects of xylazine itself. There is currently no known antidote or reversal agent for xylazine overdose in humans. However, naloxone can still be effective in reversing the effects of the particular opioid involved and should still be administered if symptoms consistent with possible opioid overdose are present.

Xylazine has been a growing issue across Delaware and the nation. It has been increasingly detected in the illicit drug supply and in drug overdoses, primarily in combination with opioids such as heroin and fentanyl. The non-opioid has also been found to be combined with stimulants, including methamphetamine and cocaine.

According to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, the emergence of xylazine across the United States has followed the same path as fentanyl, starting in the Northeast and then spreading to the South and working its way into drug markets westward. Between 2020 and 2021, the use of xylazine rose in all four U.S. census regions, most notably in the south (193%) and the west (112%). The low cost of xylazine has also contributed to xylazine’s increased presence in the nation’s illegal drug supply.

Section 4717 of Title 16 of the Delaware Code establishes that “[t]he Secretary [of State] shall place a substance in Schedule III if the Secretary finds that: (1) The substance has a potential for abuse less than the substances listed in Schedules I and II; (2) The substance has currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States; and (3) Abuse of the substance may lead to moderate or low physical dependence or high psychological dependence.” Further, emergency regulations may be promulgated pursuant to the Administrative Procedures Act, so long as an agency determines there exists “an imminent peril to the public health, safety or welfare.” 29 Del.C. §10119. Such regulation will only be effective for a maximum of 120 days, but may be renewed once for an additional period of 60 days. 29 Del.C. §10119(3).

The Secretary of State will accept, consider and respond to petitions by any interested person for the reconsideration or revision of this regulation by addressing the same to the attention of the Office of Controlled Substances, Cannon Building, 861 Silver Lake Blvd., Dover, DE 19904.

A copy of the Emergency Order can be found here https://dpr.delaware.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/93/2023/06/06.02.2023-Secretary-of-State-Emergency-Classifying-Xylazine-as-Schedule-III-Controlled-Substance.pdf. A copy will also be submitted to the Registrar of Regulations for publication in the next Delaware Register of Regulations.

Delawareans seeking substance use treatment or recovery resources for themselves or a loved one can call the Delaware Hope Line at 1-833-9-HOPEDE or (833) 946-7333.

The Controlled Substance Advisory Committee promotes, preserves, and protects the public health, safety, and welfare by regulating and monitoring the use and abuse of controlled substances. To learn more about the Controlled Substance Advisory Committee, click here.

Delaware Secretary of State Jeff Bullock issued a statement following Senator Tom Carper’s decision to not seek reelection in 2024:

Tom Carper has literally bent the arch of Delaware history. Everywhere you look up and down our state, Tom Carper has had an impact. His body of work is unprecedented, and it continues to grow, touching the lives of every Delawarean and improving our quality of life. Tom Carper’s impact has been historic, his contributions to Delaware are second to none, and his legacy to our state will be felt for generations to come.

I started my public service with Tom Carper as a 22-year-old intern. Over the next 17 years, I had the opportunity to serve as his chief of staff in the U.S. House, the U.S. Senate, and for most of his time as governor. Governor John Carney, Senator Chris Coons, and Representative Lisa Blunt Rochester, and many other leaders in government and business share important parts of their life stories with Tom Carper.  

He has been an incredible friend and mentor to us all, and I am forever grateful for his leadership.

Secretary of State Jeff Bullock announced that Karelin Torres was selected to receive the prestigious 2022 John Lewis Youth Leadership Award. The award, in honor of the late Congressman John Lewis, recognizes a gifted, civic-minded young Delawarean who has demonstrated leadership abilities, has a passion for social justice, and is improving the quality of life in their community. This is the first time that a Delaware Secretary of State has honored an individual with such an award.

“Karelin’s work in educating and encouraging non-English speaking Delawareans to vote in the 2022 Elections exemplified Congressman Lewis’s mission,” said Secretary of State Jeff Bullock. “Young people across our state are rising to the challenge and working to make a difference in all sectors of their communities. This was shown by the number of outstanding nominations that we received last year, and I am proud that my office can showcase a changemaker each year.”

The John Lewis Youth Leadership Award was established in 2021 by the National Association of Secretaries of State to honor the extraordinary accomplishments of the late Congressman John Lewis. His courageous achievements during the Civil Rights Movement and his long tenure of public service have inspired and will continue to inspire Americans for generations to come.

Torres was active with the Votamos We Vote Coalition—a collection of Latinx civic engagement organizations in Delaware dedicated to registering and encouraging Hispanic citizens to vote. Through the Entre Nosotras Program, a radio program on a Spanish-language station in Sussex County, Torres worked to promote election information ahead of the 2022 Elections, including how to register to vote, information about candidates, and the mail-in voting process. Through storytelling, Torres helped shaped the listeners’ views on the importance of voting, particularly for first-generation Americans, and ultimately inspired individuals to cast their ballots for the first time.

“I am forever grateful to my mother, Cruz Maria Alba, for all the sacrifices she has ever made for me. I am thankful to my community for always providing support and I would not be capable of doing this work without the guidance of Carla Guerrón-Montero and Charito Calvachi-Mateyko. Finally, I want to thank the ACLU of Delaware, Mike Brickner and Meera Deevota for bringing me in as a part of their team,” said Karelin Torres, 2022 John Lewis Youth Leadership Award recipient.

In addition to spreading information about the 2022 Elections, Torres worked with the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Delaware to recruit bilingual poll workers to polling places across the State of Delaware. Currently, visibility of bilingual poll workers to help break barriers, including language barriers, is critically low. Torres’ activism and passion to address this issue led to the recruitment of a number of bilingual poll workers and she partnered with the Delaware Department of Elections to place them in polling places that were likely to have a high traffic of Spanish speakers. As a result of her efforts, every bilingual poll worker was able to wear a button that said, “Hablo Español” (I speak Spanish), indicating to voters that they had an advocate in the room that would assist them.

“Karelin is a remarkable advocate and I have been in awe of her passion to champion civic engagement in Delaware’s Latino community,” said Mike Brickner, Executive Director of the ACLU of Delaware. “The right to vote is foundational to every other right, and Karelin’s work to ensure every eligible voter can cast a ballot means that more Latinos are weighing in on critical issues that face their communities. Importantly, Karelin has led other forms of civic engagement beyond voting to ensure that those who are not yet citizens and eligible to vote can still make their voices heard. She epitomizes John Lewis’ spirit of ‘Good Trouble’ and I am delighted she is being recognized.”

Nominations for the John Lewis Youth Leadership Award are open in the Fall of each year.

Eligibility requirements for the Award include:

• The nominee must be a resident of the State of Delaware.
• The nominee must be 25 years or younger by the close of the application submission window.
• The nominee is recognized in their community for being civic-minded and improving the quality of life in their community.
• The nominee has shown a meaningful commitment to address civil rights issues, including but not limited to voting rights, and to authentically bring about positive change in his or her community.

Submissions for nominations for the 2023 John Lewis Youth Leadership Award will open later in the year. To learn more about the John Lewis Youth Leadership Award, visit de.gov/johnlewisaward

Secretary of State Jeff Bullock on Thursday announced that Andrew (Drew) Slater will depart from his role as Delaware Public Advocate on Friday, February 17, 2023, and will assume a new role as Executive Director of the Sustainable Energy Utility, Inc., also known as Energize Delaware. Ruth Ann Price, who has served as Deputy Public Advocate, will become Acting Public Advocate until a candidate is appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Delaware State Senate.

“Drew’s knowledge and steadfast commitment to ensuring that Delawareans have the lowest reasonable utility rates will be sorely missed,” said Secretary Bullock. “In my years in state government, no one has been a more vocal advocate for consumers. Drew will have a great opportunity to promote clean and affordable energy in his new role, and I wish him well.”

The Division of the Public Advocate advocates for the lowest reasonable rates, principally on behalf of residential and small commercial consumers, consistent with the maintenance of adequate utility service and consistent with an equitable distribution of rates among all classes of consumers.

“I am excited for the opportunity to be the Executive Director of Energize Delaware,” said Andrew Slater, Delaware Public Advocate. “Our team at the Division continues to be responsive to Delawareans’ needs, which is evidenced through what we have accomplished over the past six years.”

As the Public Advocate, Slater advocated for regulated utility consumers in utility rate cases, the Artificial Island project cost allocation, several legislative initiatives such as increasing the RPS and Community Solar, Utility Distribution Planning, reducing utility rates as a result of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, and many other initiatives.

Slater was appointed Delaware’s Public Advocate by Governor Carney and confirmed by the Senate on January 25, 2017, and reappointed and confirmed in 2021. During his tenure, Slater served as the Vice President of the National Association of State Utility Consumer Advocates (NASUCA)—the highest rank obtained for any Delaware Public Advocate thus far. He has also served on a number of boards including, the GTI Public Interest Advisory Committee, the Sustainable Energy Utility (Energize Delaware), the Renewable Energy Task Force, the National Association of Regulated Utility Commissioners (NARUC) Subcommittee on COVID-19, the Biggs Museum of the American Art, and others.

Prior to his role as the Public Advocate, Slater was then-Congressman Carney’s Kent/Sussex Coordinator. He began his career in public service nearly 20 years ago as an intern for then-U.S. Senator Joe Biden on the Foreign Relations Committee and spent 10 years working for the Delaware State Senate.

Slater is a graduate of Washington College and received a master’s degree from Wilmington University in 2011. He lives in Camden with his wife Laura, and two children.