Week of 4/10: Spring Has Sprung

Friends,

Spring has sprung. As our lawns flush green and flowers promise new growth, I reflect on how much our campaign has grown, and how much I’ve grown as a candidate. I am honored to have heard your stories, and they have moved me deeply. Here’s a few things I’ve learned from you.

I’ve noticed a common thread that binds many of us together – mental health. This can affect anyone. I met a woman in Westover Hills who shared the story of a loved one who could not access care in time. I met a grandmother in Oak Lane Manor who fears answering her phone, wondering if it will be the police calling about her grandson with schizophrenia. I’ve met nurses who are concerned about violence and overcrowding in our hospitals. I hear you, and I have a plan. Let’s increase access by training more professionals, modernize our Title 16 code pertaining to mental healthcare, and ensure our first responders are well-equipped to respond to a mental health crisis. I want Delawareans to have access to the best mental healthcare. We will do better – this is personal.

I’ve met a lot of the “power players” in Delaware who have shown me how things really get done in Dover. I've had the chance to learn from people who hold very different opinions from my own and I’ve become a better candidate for it. My takeaway: the best policy is made when people come together to form consensus. The controversy with data centers is a great example. There are good people wanting to build these data centers so they can provide for their families. There are also equally good people warning us about the effects these centers will have on our electric bills and our environment. Finding common ground is an important skill to have. I’ll be the kind of legislator that seeks to mediate whenever possible to find workable solutions.

There are times, though, when we cannot mediate our differences. When Trump starts another illegal war and then cuts our healthcare, there is no room for compromise. There is no room for compromise when billionaires that don’t live here buy off our politicians to influence policy that steals from our communities. At the No Kings rally, I marched with thousands of Delawareans who are sick and tired of watching the social fabric of our nation unravel at the seams. In these moments, we must be loud, bold, and ambitious. We must bring reason and rationality back into our politics, and we must speak truth to power. This is the heart of our progressive movement.

I hope we all move into Spring with a renewed sense of hope. I believe in our community and the people that make us so special. I believe in our campaign, which is growing every day. I will fight for your healthcare, for our schools, and for an economy that works for everyone. Thank you for sharing your story – and I look forward to hearing many more.

Until next time,
Dr. Rob Bahnsen
Candidate for State Representative, District 12