Candidate name: Rich Collins

Party: Republican

Age: 73

Hometown: Millsboro

Political experience: Member, Delaware House of Representatives, since 2014.

Professional experience: Insurance agent and agency owner for 37 years (retired); currently a small farmer; have owned several other small businesses.

What uniquely qualifies you for this office?

I successfully worked to defend individual liberties for many years before running for office. Being a representative is a continuation of that work.

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

1. Modifying state law that gives a governor power to keep citizens under emergency orders indefinitely, with no checks and balances from other elected officials. 2. Ending “wokeness” in our schools, particularly in regards to gender sexualization of young children. 3. Stopping proposed Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control regulations that will require 100% electric car, SUV and pickup truck purchases by 2035.

What would be your top priority if elected?

Stopping the coming electric car mandate.

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

I will introduce legislation to limit the governor’s unlimited emergency powers that were so badly misused during the pandemic.

What can Delaware do about its workforce issues?

Return the schools to education instead of social engineering and “wokeness.”

What, if any, gun laws would you change?

I would insist that legislators honor their oath of office by not passing legislation that is in direct violation of both the U.S. and Delaware constitutions. I fully expect the recently passed “assault weapon” and large-magazine bans to be overturned by the courts on constitutional grounds.

How would you protect or change abortion rights in the state?

I would encourage people to understand that having an abortion means the death of a child. Delawareans will suffer because of becoming a magnet state for abortion.

Do you support the State Employee Benefits Committee’s move to a Medicare Advantage plan for state retirees? Why?

Now that the state has delayed this move for a year, I will wait for more information. Whatever solution is determined, it is important that Delaware taxpayers understand that the current unfunded health care liability is $10 billion and is expected to balloon to over $30 billion with no changes. If nothing is done, this will be a major financial drag on our state and could negatively impact the AAA bond rating.