By Craig Anderson

WILMINGTON — Standing in front of the Wilmington Police Department Thursday, Julianne Murray announced her candidacy for becoming Delaware’s next attorney general in 2022.

Priority No. 1, Ms. Murray said before a gathering of around 30 supporters, is public safety.

“I think that Delawareans are afraid,” she said. “We are seeing a record number of people apply for gun permits, make gun purchases because they’re afraid they’re going to defend themselves because law enforcement is tasked in a lot of different directions.”

According to Ms. Murray, a Republican party member and attorney, the state’s problems are two-fold.

“In Delaware, we have the law enforcement that does not have confidence in (current AG) Kathy Jennings,” she said. “I don’t think that’s a surprise to anybody.”

Ms. Murray referenced a “no confidence letter” issued by the Delaware State Troopers Association, the Delaware Fraternal Order of Police and the Delaware Police Chiefs’ Council that was aimed at Ms. Jennings. The letter followed a Delaware Department of Justice decision in June 2020 not to prosecute 22 protesters in Camden, she said.

“I won’t take that approach,” she said. “I’ve talked to a lot of law enforcement officers in this state and the universal comment is she doesn’t have our back and that’s a huge problem when the perception is that the top cop doesn’t have their back.”

Also, according to Ms. Murray, “We’ve got this other problem, which is the prosecution element and what’s happening with crime and the perception we’re not prosecuting as much as we should be.”

If elected the next attorney general, Ms. Murray pledged to:

• Support law enforcement and oppose all attempts at defunding and abolishing the police.

• Prioritize public safety in Delaware by combating crime and ensuring that criminals are prosecuted.

• Treat law-breakers equally, ensuring equal justice for all citizens.

• Obey the Constitution and uphold the rule of the law.

• Prosecute. Especially gun crimes.

• Keep politics out of the job.

• Ensure that justice is blind and nonpartisan.

Ms. Murray stressed that, while she was criticizing Ms. Jennings, she lauded Delaware Department of Justice prosecutors.

If elected, Ms. Murray said, “The 2024 governor race is off the table” and she would serve the entire four-year term.

More information on the candidate is available online at MurrayForDelaware.com. Ms. Murray ran unsuccessfully for the governor’s office in 2020.