The Committee of 100 | Meeting Notes

The hottest race in Delaware this election year is clearly the one for Delaware Attorney General. M. Jane Brady, Delaware Attorney General for 11 years, declined to run again and, on December 7, 2005, was sworn in as a Superior Court judge. Even before Carl C. Danburg, appointed by Governor Minner to complete Jane Brady's term, was sworn in on December 8, he announced that he would not seek election to the office.

The race is hot, not only because it is a rare, State-wide, open race, but also, because of its importance and because of the candidates.

The position of Attorney General may have gravitas because it is an ancient one in English legal practice, documented as far back as 1277 and because its Delaware predecessors can be found in Delaware's Swedish, Dutch, and English history as well as the State Constitution of 1792. However, it is the State Constitution of 1897 which made the Attorney General so important when, in addition to making the AG a four-year elective office, it made the Attorney General the third in line of succession to the Governorship.

Candidates Republican Ferris W. Wharton and Democrat Joseph R. “Beau” Biden, III are what really make this race hot. Both are Delaware natives, both are lawyers, both have served as Assistant U.S. Attorney with the Department of Justice, both are men, both want to prosecute criminals. The resemblance stops there.

Ferris Wharton, 53, has been a prosecutor for over 25 years, serving in the Delaware Attorney General's Office as Deputy Attorney General, Chief Prosecutor for New Castle County, State Prosecutor, and Chief Deputy Attorney General as well as in the U.S. Department of Justice as Assistant U.S. Attorney.

Beau Biden, 37, a lawyer for more than a decade, served as a Judicial Law Clerk for U.S. District Judge Steven J. McAuliffe then worked in the U.S. Department of Justice as Counsel, Office of Policy Development; Special Assistant U.S. Attorney, Criminal Division; and Assistant U.S. Attorney, Criminal Division.

The Committee of 100 debate format includes opening and closing statements from the candidates and answering questions submitted, in advance, by members. Members of The Committee of 100 are invited to submit questions for the candidates to bbaxter@committeeof100.com.