Sturgeon and Romer: It’s about time for a Delaware inspector general
Sen. Laura V. Sturgeon, D-Woodbrook, was elected in 2018. Prior to her time in office, she had a longstanding career as an educator in Delaware public schools. She is a known champion for better schools, workers’ rights and good government. Rep. Cyndie Romer, D-Newark, has served her district since 2022. She has lived in southern Newark since 2004 and has been active in her community with organizations such as the NAACP’s Newark branch, Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America and American Civil Liberties Union Delaware.
With a deep respect for civil servants across state government and our democratic institutions, we are proud to bring forth an initiative designed to further protect and enhance them: the establishment of a Delaware Office of Inspector General.
Since becoming members of the legislature, we have come to know many of the good men and women who serve across state government. We have a great deal of faith and trust in what our state government does and how we do it. We believe that, as a collective of people and agencies, we get most things right, we serve Delawareans well the vast majority of the time, and nearly all of us who are called to public service serve with honor and integrity.
But our constituents do not have an insider’s view of what goes on in their state government. They sometimes see or hear about issues that concern them, making them wonder if we are being good stewards of their hard-earned tax dollars; if we are holding ourselves and our fellow government officials to the highest ethical standards; if we are being honest, open and transparent about problems when we find them; and if we are holding ourselves and our fellow officials accountable for finding and fixing issues that need addressing.
At a time when public confidence in government is near historical lows, we all have a role to play in building back that trust. While our state auditor, our Department of Justice’s Division of Civil Rights & Public Trust, our law enforcement agencies and our legislative oversight efforts can all point to strong records of public accountability in recent years, an independent and nonpartisan investigative office is the tool we are missing from our toolbox. The creation of an Office of Inspector General — with its subpoena power, its ability to file civil suits for recovery of misspent or stolen resources and its ability to publish findings of fraud or mismanagement of government resources — will enhance Delawareans’ faith and confidence that state government is getting it right.
After years of stakeholder engagement and advocacy, we have carefully crafted a bill that will ensure the Office of Inspector General is indeed independent and nonpartisan by creating an appointment and confirmation process that involves a selection panel made up of some of the most highly respected and trusted Delawareans. That appointee’s name will then go to the Senate for further vetting, and his or her term, once confirmed, will last five years so that, by design, it overlaps gubernatorial and legislative terms of service.
The inspector general would be required to maintain a statewide tollfree number, a website, an email address and a mailing address for receiving complaints, and would have to notify the complainant if the complaint is not pursued and the reason why. Any evidence of criminal behavior would be required to be handed over to the Department of Justice. At the conclusion of an investigation, the Office of Inspector General would be required to issue a decision, including recommending next steps, on its public website. The office would not release publicly the names of any individuals about whom complaints were made if it finds no evidence of wrongdoing, but it will, upon request, furnish the nonredacted report exonerating the individual to the person who was the subject of the complaint, to use however he or she wishes. The identity of complainants will always be protected.
Last year, 15 organizations signed on in support of the creation of an Office of Inspector General, including American Civil Liberties Union Delaware, which collaborated on the bill; the League of Women Voters of Delaware, who also gave input that was incorporated; the Delaware Coalition for Open Government; and Common Cause Delaware.
It’s time Delaware joined the other 36 states, including Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and the District of Columbia, that have nonpartisan, independent offices dedicated to investigating whistleblower complaints and reporting on their findings to improve transparency, accountability and confidence in state government.
Reader reactions, pro or con, are welcomed at civiltalk@iniusa.org.
