The Committee of 100 | Meeting Notes

Major changes are in store for Delaware next year. With no incumbent running, there will definitely be a new face in the Governor's office.

The candidates are well known. Democrat Ruth Ann Minner has held elective office since 1974 when she was first elected to the State House of Represen-tatives. In 1982 she was elected to the State Senate where she served until she was elected Lieutenant Governor. Since 1992 she has been a prominent part of the Carper Administration, beginning with her work as Chairperson of the Commission on Govern-ment Reorganization and Effectiveness, which be-came known as the Minner Commission. As Chair-person of the Senate Natural Resources Committee, Ruth Ann made her mark as a pragmatic protector of the environment. Among her honors are Wildlife Federation Legislator of the Year, 1989, and Sierra Club First Annual Environmental Award, 1990.

Republican John Burris became equally well known to us during his tenure as President and CEO of the Delaware State Chamber of Commerce, 1989-99. He has been Vice President of Burris Foods, Inc. since 1972 and was President of Kent Sussex Tire Service, 1971-88; Knocks Tire Service, 1977-85; and Burris Bandag of Philadelphia, 1980-85. John served in the Delaware House of Representatives from 1976 to 1982, as majority leader 1979-81. During his tenure in the House, John was a central player in correcting Delaware's troubled finances and in passing the Financial Centers Development Act; during his tenure at the State Chamber, John made education and land use key issues for the Chamber.

Republican William Swain Lee, best known as the Superior Court judge presiding over the Tom Capano trial, first served as a Family Court judge, 1977-86 before moving to Superior Court, 1986-99. He served as Sussex County Republican Chairman from 1973 until he joined Family Court.

Ruth Ann Minner and John Burris have accepted our invitation; Bill Lee has not yet responded.