Choices for Delaware: Life and the Economy in 2000 and Beyond

Beginning in early 1998, the Delaware Public Policy Institute undertook a project entitled “Choices for Delaware: Life and the Economy in 2000 and Beyond.” It began with a series of studies to be conducted by the University of Delaware on several issues that would have a profound effect on the economy and quality of life in the new millennium.

From economic development to effective government
With the results of those studies in hand, five volunteer task forces were formed that would spend the next year researching such topics as education, economic development, land use planning and infrastructure, urban growth, and effective government.

The task forces were comprised of representatives from all levels of government, business, civic organizations, environmental organizations, educators and private citizens. Each task force pored over hundreds of documents and met with representatives of every conceivable segment of the state from downstate farmers who want to trade cornfields for housing subdivisions to urban residents looking for tax credits to restore historic properties.

Incorporating public input
In December 1999, each task force submitted preliminary reports that were presented in a “virtual forum” on the Internet. Utilizing the Internet afforded a broad cross-section of Delawareans the opportunity to participate by sending their comments directly to DPPI and the University of Delaware. The task forces then went back to work to incorporate the public input into their final reports and issue specific recommendations based on their findings. The goal of the task forces was to work within a timeframe to allow presentation of the reports to the announced candidates in the 2000 elections and to ask for the candidates’ reaction to the specific recommendations.

Task force findings incorporated into campaign platforms
The Public Forum was held in June 2000 at the Riverfront Arts Center. The candidates for Governor and Lieutenant Governor were invited to participate and those candidates who attended were John Burris and William Swain Lee, Republican candidates for Governor, John Carney, Democratic candidate for Lieutenant Governor, and Dennis Rochford, Republican candidate for Lieutenant Governor. Before an audience of 300 participants, each candidate was asked for his position on the recommendations of the task forces by a commentator. Additionally, the audience was encouraged to submit questions for the candidates, resulting in a lively exchange between candidates and participants.

As the campaigns progressed throughout the fall, many of the issues addressed by the task forces found their way into the candidates’ platforms – the ultimate goal of the “Choices for Delaware” project.

While the “Choices” project was underway, it was determined by the participants that there were additional topics that were closely related to the existing study, but there was not enough time to research these topics prior to the November 2000 elections. Therefore, the Board of Trustees authorized two “spin-off” projects for 2001. The first will focus on developing mechanisms to evaluate the structure of K-12 public education, reducing organizational overhead and channeling a greater share of funding to teachers and students. The second project will investigate the establishment of a public/private committee on economic growth that would bring together experts from the public and private sectors in an open, inclusive process to develop ways to better coordinate quality economic development, land use and infrastructure planning.

DPPI will continue to be in the forefront on important emerging public policy issues facing our state.