Candidate Name: Tom Brett

Office you are seeking: Delaware State Representative District 41

Party: Democratic

Age: 66

Hometown: Millsboro, DE

Political experience:  I have worked with several groups and as an individual to advocate for responsible growth, renewable energy policy, preservation of open space, clean water, clean air and protection of our wetlands.  My advocacy has included testifying in legislative hall, Sussex County Council, Sussex County Planning and Zoning and various Town Council and Town Hall meetings.

Professional experience:Received a Bachelor’s degree in accounting with help of the GI Bill. 

Attained a Certified Public Accountant designation. 

Held senior leadership positions with rapidly growing entrepreneurial businesses.

What uniquely qualifies you for this office?

My military experience enlightened me about how individuals with diverse backgrounds can work together, each contributing their unique talents, to accomplish difficult goals.

Through my advocacy I met passionate people and committed organizations throughout Sussex County and Delaware who work selflessly, often as unpaid volunteers, to improve the lives of those in their communities.  This has inspired me to do better and use my own talents to contribute to the greater good.

My extensive experience as a senior business leader has prepared me to evaluate the competing interests of various stakeholders to effectively manage limited resources to accomplish big things.

What are the top three issues for this office in your view? 

Managing the growth of our area more responsibly.  Our roads are congested and unsafe, our schools are over-burdened, our water quality is poor, access to quality healthcare is increasingly more limited.  We need a better balance between private property rights and maintaining a quality of life that residents of the 41^st district deserve.

Providing affordable childcare will strengthen families and communities throughout the state.  Providing a means by which parents can achieve their potential at work or school is an investment that will pay significant dividends. 

Climate change is an existential threat and having serious-minded discussions to determine appropriate actions is necessary.  We have a responsibility to future generations that we must meet.  The endorsement of my candidacy by the Sierra Club reflects my commitment to the protection of our natural resources, and the health of our environment for future generations.

What would be your top priority if elected? 

Engage collaboratively with my colleagues in the legislature to ensure that District 41 receives the necessary resources to responsibly manage its extraordinary growth.  Sussex County should receive a greater share of the state’s investments in roads, emergency services, schools and families.  We need leadership that can work effectively to bring needed investments to District 41.

If you could change or protect one state policy or law, what would it be?

Require that developers assume a greater responsibility to the communities in which they profit.  Sufficient investments in roads and schools to accommodate the increased population should be required.  A fair proportion of affordable housing should be required.    

What can Delaware do about its workforce issues?

Delaware should provide a range of employment, education, training, and related services and supports to help all job-seekers secure good jobs while providing businesses with the skilled workers they need to compete in the global economy.  Delaware should ensure that the workforce system is job-driven and matches employers with skilled individuals. The plan should foster development of more comprehensive and integrated approaches, such as career pathways and sector strategies, for addressing the needs of businesses and workers.

Delaware should implement a holistic approach that creates good paying jobs while also creating affordable childcare, early childhood education and affordable housing so that these jobs can be pursued.

How would you protect or change state employee benefits?

When an employee is hired as a state employee, the benefits promised at hiring should be regarded as unchangeable.  Benefits are a part of total compensation.  A primary factor in a person’s decision to become a state employee is compensation, a significant part of which are benefits.

What would you do to improve the quality of education in the First State?

Delaware needs to improve the educational outcomes for its students.  A quality education is the equalizer in our society because it affords our children from all backgrounds equal opportunities to achieve their most lofty ambitions.  I am proud of my endorsement by the Delaware State Education Association which reflects my sincere commitment to providing a quality outcome for all students and my support for the professionals responsible for the education of future leaders.

The quality of education in Delaware is a complex issue with nuanced elements.  For brevity’s sake, the two most impactful issues to address are:

Equitable funding to ensure that all students have the same quality of education.  Funding should properly account for relative costs of low-income, English language learners, and students with disabilities.

Expand school-based management in which principals have greater discretion in how they create and sustain their school’s culture and teachers are treated as professionals. Provide professional development for teachers, principals, and supportive services for non-teaching roles critical to every school.

What issues do you strongly support and would not compromise?

I believe my role as state representative is to understand what is important to my constituency and work to achieve what they want.  I will not compromise my constituency’s expectations.

There may be issues I feel strongly about that are not in alignment with what my constituency wants.  I believe my role as a leader is to engage with the community and share my views and try to persuade others on positions important to me.

I won’t compromise my personal beliefs, but I will not ignore my constituency’s preferences.

How do you improve civility and thoughtful dialog in Delaware politics?

By practicing the lost art of respectful listening.  A willingness to understand another’s perspective is the first step to meaningful dialog.

How do you perceive the “Delaware way” today?

My understanding is that the Delaware Way is an aspiration to overcome individual differences to achieve common goals.  It is the ability to put aside one’s personal preferences for the better good of the state.

The Delaware Way is under a lot of stress in the current divisive political climate.  However, respect for others, listening to others, and making an honest attempt to understand perspectives different from your own, go a long way to uncovering our common priorities and bringing us closer together.