Candidate Comparison | Keonna Watson

Below is a comparison of the two leading candidates for the 12th Senate District on key issues.

Ethics in Office

Keonna Watson: She will fight to ban Delaware legislators from personally profiting off the public money they control. No lawmaker should be able to steer state contracts or grants to their own organization. It's the same principle behind the push to ban members of Congress from trading stocks. Public office should serve the public, not the officeholder.
Sen. Nicole Poore: A report by WHYY found Sen. Nicole Poore continually voted to use public money to fund the organization she directs. Together with her taxpayer funded legislative role she previously made $194,200 a year. Watchdogs call it a “severe appearance of impropriety."

Government Surveillance

Keonna Watson: Believes Delawareans shouldn't be swept into police searches simply for what they typed into a search engine. Supported House Bill 145 — the nation's first near-ban on reverse-keyword warrants — to make sure our digital lives aren't searched without cause.
Sen. Nicole Poore: Was one of the only Democrats to join with Republicans in failing to support House Bill 145, Delaware's landmark ban on reverse-keyword warrants — searches that sweep up the private data of people suspected of no crime.

Community Development

Keonna Watson: Believes a stable, affordable home is the foundation for health, education, and opportunity — and will fight for development that serves the people already living in our communities, not just those who can afford to move in.
Sen. Nicole Poore: An investigation by Fight Delaware Corruption found Sen. Poore continued to allocate funds to a redevelopment corporation converting public parks into commercial spaces despite public outcries.

Public Health

Keonna Watson: The Delaware City Refinery has received over 50 violations while releasing over 4.6 million pounds of pollutants into our air and water in recent years. Keonna Watson will push to require the refinery to install backup pollution-control equipment, so a single equipment failure doesn't release toxins into our neighborhoods in the first place.
Sen. Nicole Poore: The Delaware City Refinery received over 50 violations while releasing over 4.6 million pounds of pollutants in the air and water in recent years. Despite overseeing the district for over 10 years and seeing this impact Sen. Poore has accepted donations from the refinery.