Political newcomers Elizabeth "Tizzy" Lockman and Jordan Hines have announced their intent to challenge longtime state Sen. Robert Marshall in 2018.
Two political newcomers have announced their intent to challenge longtime state Sen. Robert Marshall in next year's election.
Elizabeth "Tizzy" Lockman and Jordan Hines are vying for the seat that Marshall has held for nearly 40 years. The candidates hope to represent a district that covers much of Wilmington — from the east side to the west, including downtown and the Riverfront.
Lockman, 37, is an education advocate and advocacy director at the Christina Cultural Arts Center. A native of the Cool Spring neighborhood on Wilmington's west side, she has been a Public Ally, a member of the governor-appointed Wilmington Education Advisory Committee and vice chair of the Wilmington Education Improvement Commission.
"I feel well-equipped to do this work," she said. "I've been doing policy work and advocacy work. ... Politics is advocacy and policy married together."
Hines, 27, was most recently a legislative and policy analyst for Wilmington City Council, a job he started in January. He resigned in August to pursue the Senate seat and has been campaigning full time, he said.
His first run for office follows work on other candidates' campaigns including Velda Jones-Potter for state treasurer, Ciro Poppiti for lieutenant governor and Hanifa Shabazz for City Council president. Hines was a robotics coordinator for FAME Inc., a nonprofit that encourages minority representation in engineering; a project director for Christina Cultural Arts Center; and a legislative aide for the New Castle County register of wills.
If elected, the East Side native said he would be focused on policy, not "ego."
"I'm running because it's not about me, it's about being effective," he said. "I'm a visionary."
Twelve-term Sen. Marshall said he doesn't know his challengers well but wants to continue the public service he started in 1979.
"My record speaks for itself," he said.
Marshall, who lost a bid for Wilmington mayor last year, said his priorities in the new session will be raising the minimum wage and improving the education system, including pursuing the establishment of a trade school.
Lockman said politics have not been her ambition, but she feels compelled to change the "old political ways" in Delaware.
"Where we've lost our way is that lack of transparency that people are frustrated with, where people tell you one thing but do another because it's politically expedient," she said.