Candidate Name: Ruth Briggs King
Office you are seeking Lt. Governor
Party : Republican
Age : 68
Hometown : Georgetown
Political experience : I served from 2009 until 2023 as the 37 th District representative in Delaware’s General. During my 14 yearlong legislative career, I served on the most important committees in the Delaware Legislature including the House Judiciary, Health and Human Services, Public Safety and Homeland Security, Transportation, Land Use and Infrastructure, Education, Veteran Affairs Committees as well as the Joint Finance Committee.
Additionally, I served on the Cancer Consortium, The Behavioral Health Taskforce, the Long Term Care and Dementia Taskforce, and the Delaware Healthy Women and Infants Taskforce.
I accepted major assignments in the Legislature tackling Workers Compensation Reform, Prevailing Wage Reform, Financial Literacy, the Structural Revenue Review Taskforce, the Mental Health Task Force, Educational Funding Task Force and Retired Employee Benefits Task Force and the Law Enforcement Accountability Task Force. All of these posts gave me valuable experience into how the state government works and insights into how to make government work better for all Delawareans. ADD I have worked in several fields outside of public service including medical, education, banking and finance with an emphasis on leadership, organizational development, and strategic planning. Now, I am a consultant for not-for-profit organizations and Workforce Solution Today, LLC. based in Georgetown. (Her women owned business with colleague Maribeth Dockety)
In recognition of my stellar leadership in government and in my community, I have received awards from a diverse range of groups including Elysian Magazine as a distinguished and inspirational woman, an award from the Ability Network of Delaware, and a National legislative award from Mental Health America association. I was also honored to be recognized as a Distinguished Legislator by the National Foundation of Women Legislators where I also serve on the Board.
In addition to Delaware, I was invited to attend four significant legislative leader events outside of Delaware including: Civility Training in Hyannis Port, MA, Robert Thompson Eastern Leadership Academy at the Fels Institute with Council of State Governments, the National Federation of Legislative Women where I served as the State Director for Delaware and I’m a Tolls Fellow recipient and just completed a two- year assignment on Emerging Issues in Health Care for the Council of State Government.
Professional experience : My professional experience is diverse and I have worked in several fields outside of public service including medical, education, banking and finance with an emphasis on leadership, organizational development, and strategic planning. Now, I am a consultant for not-for-profit organizations and Workforce Solution Today, LLC. based in Georgetown. (My women owned business with colleague Maribeth Dockety). In each career I have excelled with leadership and distinction being a Teacher of the Year for Kent County Vo Tech School district, a hall of fame recipient for my high school and colleges.
What uniquely qualifies you for this office?
My combined education, experience, and work in both the public and private sector throughout Delaware in a variety of fields provides me with a unique perspective and understanding of critical issues that impact the life and livelihood of Delawareans. I have excelled in every professional endeavor and been a strong advocate on many issues for business and families. I have a strong history of constituent service and problem solving that provides real help and relief. Equally important, I was appointed to on critical issues for the State such as expanding Delaware broadband access, workers compensation reform, law enforcement accountability taskforce, long term care and aging in place taskforce, and educational funding taskforce. As a member of the Joint Finance Committee and the structural Revenue Review taskforce I understand the need to balance spending and revenue from taxpayers.
What are the top three issues for this office in your view?
Making education better and safer for all public school students and their teachers.
Improving business climate in the state and spurring job growth across sectors
Ensuring Public safety/ Safer neighborhoods for all Delawareans .
What would be your top priority if elected?
In my official capacity, it would be presiding over the Senate in a manner that ensures transparency, civility, and fairness to all Senators as well as the public.
However, as all Lieutenant Governors do, I would also like to focus on a public policy issue of great interest to me and of foremost importance to our state. That issue is fixing our public schools so that teachers can teach, and students can learn in safe, structured, and effective classroom settings. For too long, teachers have been forced to deal with dangerous and disruptive classrooms - a fact which I and other educators have known for years - but seems to be a new revelation for the leaders of the state teachers’ union.
If you could change or protect one state policy or law, what would it be?
I would like to see Delaware address the regulatory process that circumvents legislation and therefore leaves the public subject to the opinion of one unelected person, an appointed secretary.
I would continue to protect and fund farmland and open space preservation. Delaware has seen a proliferation of development throughout the state and our number one industry, agriculture, needs support to remain viable.
What can Delaware do about its workforce issues?
“ Help wanted” signs are abundant in Delaware. Businesses are struggling to recruit and retain workers while many workers are struggling with inflation. Employers tell us workers, including college graduates, lack soft skills needed on the job. Kids are dropping out of school and workers are dropping out of work. The “silo” approach between education, talent development and employment show the disconnection makes Delaware make real and relevant improvements.
A well-prepared workforce is essential for business and personal growth. Students often lack access to the school or college of their choice in Delaware and employers need a skilled workforce. Ironically, many workforce issues are related to recruitment and retention of qualified workers. Consequently, adult education programs, a focus on certification programs and increasing access and availability of apprenticeship programs are essential.
Delaware must be more prepared to address the gray wave where our aging population requires more service, and our workforce is shrinking. In addition to the brain drain, Delaware is spiraling from the lack of planning .
Delaware needs a strategy that focuses on ensuring our students’ options in education and quality career counseling before they reach high school. We need to provide more opportunities for those interested in trades as well as college. And we need robust programs for adults to learn or relearn skills that yield higher pay as well as higher job satisfaction.
Access to child and adult care, access to reliable transportation, and access to housing are all issues that impact our workforce. Sadly, the purchase of care does not assist working families since their income level is just above the threshold. We need to examine how to fix the imbalance.
How would you protect or change state employee benefits?
First, we need to differentiate Retired state employee benefits and current state employee benefits. Since Governor Minner’s administration, governors have kicked the can down the road to fund State retired benefits and the result is 9-billion-dollar liability. That liability has the potential to reduce our AAA bond rating.
I would ensure the trust fund for retiree benefits is a priority in the budget and unlike previous administrations I would ensure this was a priority over new spending,
More importantly, I would continue efforts to institute a plan for pension increases on a regular basis that is fair to all retirees. This also means not placing increased costs on current state employees to offset the poor administrative decisions.
Most Delaware pensioners agree our health benefits are outstanding, but the issue is rebalancing new hires and those who retire from state service with less than 10 years of service. I would not support changes to an employee who has prepared for retirement and leave them vulnerable.
What would you do to improve the quality of education in the First State?
As a former educator in Delaware, I want to see an action plan to address student accountability for behavior and performance. Disruptive student behavior is a problem for teachers, students, and parents. We must come forward with an action plan that ensures students and parents are held accountable for unacceptable behavior as well as student absences. Delawareans are investing in education, yet the results are poor. Schools are failing our children by giving them passing grades, ignoring poor behavior, and allowing a troubled environment. We also need to ensure that students have access to the programs, such as career technical education, that they prefer. We need more sheltered classrooms or settings that are appropriate for high need students as well as more career counselors to assist students to help determine align opportunities with ambition.
By focusing on the science of learning, reducing the redundant student assessments, recognizing teacher performance, and ensuring money follows the students we can develop and implement an actual plan rather than more discussion.
What issues do you strongly support and would not compromise?
Transparency and accountability are two areas I will not compromise or waver. People need to have faith that I will work to do the right thing for the right reasons, even if I may disagree. I am a public servant and will not place a personal agenda above the interests of the people. I will not waver on following our Constitution or laws that are to protect the people.
I strongly believe that Delaware agencies should place serving our constituents above all other interest. During my tenure as a State representative, I had to intervene and assist so many people with the bureaucracy. And on-line services and “chats” do not replace real understanding from a direct connection. Every job in state government is important or we would not have it, and I will not compromise on expectations to treat our tax payers as valued customers.
How do you improve civility and thoughtful dialog in Delaware politics?
Lead by example. I will continue to conduct myself in a manner to honor the position, my colleagues, and the people of Delaware. My Democrat colleagues in the house shared these comments during my retirement:
You are the most authentic; you are holistic; you stick to the issues, you are the only Republican I respect, you are the best legislator I have ever worked with” have often differed on opinion and often lead a hefty debate, but I never attached a person or their belief. I agree to disagree and stand firm; and I will be the first to call out an unnecessary comment or action. I will be accountable. Civility begins with respect and respecting differences. Years ago, the Speaker sent me to a civility workshop to bring the lessons back to Delaware. Delaware is known to be one of the most partisan legislatures in the nation. And, I was known to be truthful, respectful, and of good character.
How do you perceive the “Delaware way” today?
The Delaware way many have touted has lost its direction.
Our national and state constitutions created a framework whereby people from all points of view and experiences can meet to craft real solutions that can allow for those differences and still generate positive results in all communities. This is under threat from those who do not understand those documents or simply want their way now.
Historically, the “Delaware way’ was when anyone could connect with a person to discuss a concern, find assistance and problem solve. It was expedient and service driven, it was not purely political. It was “get it done” regardless of political affiliation. Sadly, the way has been eroded by politics and quid pro quo.” Delaware was a smaller state, and we joked about “do you know or are you related to” during a conversation. As the state has grown in complexity and our population increased from in-migration those personal connections have diminished as personal agendas have taken priority by many. I believe we can cultivate and reinvigorate a modern version of the Delaware way that works to promote our Delaware interests and needs.
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