Chuck Welch Kickoff Speech/Announcement – September 1, 2021
 

I want to thank everyone for showing up today. I especially want to thank (speakers) for being here and for their kind remarks. 
 
My name is Chuck Welch.  I am a retired Judge from Kent County. Before I was a Judge, I served three terms in the Delaware House of Representatives—during a time when the Republicans were in the Majority.  I was elected to House Leadership as the House Majority Whip for 2 of those terms.
 
I live in Dover with my wife, Jane, and my two children.
 
Today I am announcing my candidacy for the Office of Attorney General for the State of Delaware.  I am running because EVERY PERSON in Delaware deserves to feel safe and be safe.  But, I cannot help our fellow Delawareans achieve this goal without your support and assistance.
 
EVERY PERSON needs to know that when they leave their home to go shopping, go out to dinner or visit family and friends, they will not be caught in in the middle of a riot that is raging out of control.  They need to know that they will not be an innocent bystander caught in a hail of bullets meant for someone else.
 
EVERY PARENT needs to know that when their child goes to school, goes out to play, ride a bike, go to a basketball court or even get a haircut, they will return home safely. EVERY PARENT should be assured that when their child leaves the house, no violent criminals or drug dealers will be roaming the streets they travel.
 
EVERY HOMEOWNER, EMPLOYEE, AND EMPLOYER needs to know that they are safe and secure in their home or business without the threat of a violent invasion by looters under the guise of a “peaceful protest.”
 
          Sadly, many people do not live with such security in many areas of our state.
 

 LOOTING

 
          A little over a year ago, our nation faced a grim time in its history when a black man named George Floyd died while in police custody in Minneapolis, Minnesota.  People were outraged at his treatment and resulting death while in custody. This outrage sparked a meaningful discussion about police tactics and our entire criminal justice system in general.
 
          But, many criminals used the resulting protests as an opportunity to riot, destroy property, loot, burn, and worse.  All this occurred while many in law enforcement were “rumored” to have been told to stand down. We all watched in horror as families were terrorized throughout our state and businesses were destroyed.
 
Al’s Sporting Goods in Wilmington was totally destroyed by looting that occurred during so-called “protests”. But Al’s had no connection to George Floyd or his death.  Growing up, everyone knew and loved Al’s Sporting Goods.  We all went there for our sneakers – Chuck Taylor Converse All-Stars. We also went there for sporting equipment. I purchased my first baseball glove – a Jim Palmer Model Spalding – at Al’s. It was on sale for $15.  I still have that glove to this day. It has served me and my family for almost 50 years.
 
Yet with all the rioting and looting that took place in Delaware, to my knowledge, not one person was prosecuted for any of those crimes.  NOT A ONE. Doesn’t that speak volumes about the condition of Delaware’s criminal justice system today?
 
                                     

SHOOTINGS

 
And violent crime in Delaware continues to rise.  Back in 2016, the News Journal reported that the ABC television network had been talking about starting a new television series called “Murder Town”. The show was going to be set in Wilmington.  It was going to be based on a Newsweek article from a couple of years before headlined “Murder Town USA (aka Wilmington, Delaware)”.  The Newsweek article cited a “record” number of yearly shooting homicides in Wilmington at the time of 25 to 29 people.  Luckily, that show never was produced. That is not the sort of reputation we need for Delaware’s largest city and Corporate Capital of the world. But, since then, gun violence continues to rise to new levels. A few weeks ago, The News Journal reported that 91 people had been killed and 250 wounded by gun violence in Delaware this past year alone.
 
Each shooting victim is someone’s son or daughter, mother or father, cousin, niece or nephew, aunt or uncle. 
 
These incidents tear our communities apart and must be stopped. And don’t be fooled by thinking that these shooting incidents are just a Wilmington problem. Gun violence is exploding up and down the state, from Wilmington to Newark, to Seaford and Delmar.  In my hometown of Dover, it was reported that at least 46 shots were fired in one shooting incident this past June.  A month later, 50 shots were fired at a social club.  Ladies and Gentlemen, these are not random shootings.  These are modern-day GUNFIGHTS pure and simple and Wyatt Earp and Matt Dillon are nowhere to be found. Heck, history records that only 30 rounds were fired at the OK Corral – our country’s most famous gunfight.
 
While the number of gun crimes has continually increased, those arrested for gun crimes have been continually released from custody.  Even our current Attorney General, who championed bail reform and the elimination of cash bail, now admits these releases have caused a  problem.  She has stated that in Wilmington, 65% of those charged with gun crimes have been immediately released back to the street.  Then, she stated, and I quote, “And you realize that we are not at all bail hearings.” 

 WHAT? Why not? How can the Attorney General’s office not attend bail hearings?
 
          When a criminal court is open in the State of Delaware, a Deputy Attorney General should be present or available.  They are the State’s legal representative.  When I was a Judge, I refused to open the Court for any criminal proceeding, including bail hearings and Violations of Probation, without a Deputy Attorney General present.  When a violent gun crime occurs, the Attorney General’s Office should be notified and a Deputy Attorney General present at the defendant’s bail hearing. 
 
          I’ve been a Judge.  I know how they think. Not one of them wants to release a violent person back onto the streets. A Judge’s worst nightmare is that someone they have released will commit another violent crime and hurt someone.  The Attorney General’s office should be our voice in court, arguing to keep violent offenders in custody.  I will be that voice.
 
  

 OPIOID CRISIS

 Another issue that goes hand in hand with violent crime is Delaware’s drug problem, and more particularly, its Opioid and Fentanyl crisis. The Delaware State News reports that Delaware has experienced the second-worst rate of overdose deaths in America.  While everyone has been talking about COVID, over 650 people have died of suspected drug overdoses during the 18-month period of January 2020 through June 2021.
 
I dare say that everyone in this room has been touched in some way by someone with a drug problem. Many of us know someone who has died from a drug overdose.  I’ve seen it firsthand with a family member who got hooked on drugs, ended up missing and has now been declared legally dead. 
 
 I have also seen it as a Judge for the Court of Common Pleas Drug Court Program.
 
          One Drug Court incident left an everlasting impression on me.  About 6 or 7 years ago, a young lady entered my Drug Court Program.  She presented well at her entry. I at first had little reason to believe she had a serious drug problem.  But we couldn’t get her to engage in the program.  She failed to show for appointments and refused to appear for court hearings.  As time passed and she was brought in for capias returns, everyone could see that she was in trouble. Her appearance and condition were deteriorating. We tried everything and eventually got her attention.  I had her on house arrest.  Her family was supportive and she complied with drug treatment. She finally got clean of all drugs and was sober for months.  Everyone cheered her turn around. FINALLY, she was scheduled for a Monday to appear at probation and have her ankle monitor removed.
 
 
          Except she never made it in.
 
           During that last weekend, a “friend” visited her at her parent’s home and apparently brought a celebration gift—HEROIN. By Monday morning, both our success story and this beautiful young lady were gone.
 
          Seeing her picture and obituary in the paper made me sick to my stomach. The memory of it still haunts me to this day.
 
          What many people and drug users fail to understand is that a number of heroin overdoses occur with people who have been clean for a prolonged period of time.  The body re-sets along with your tolerance levels for the drug. If you take the same “hit” you had previously been used to taking, your body can’t handle it and you OD.  To this day, whenever I talk about drug addiction I always mention what can be this single lifesaving fact.
 
  

SOLUTION

 I have a sincere message for all my fellow Delawarean’s—
         
          HELP IS ON THE WAY!
 
When I’m elected Attorney General, I vow that:
 
While Peaceful Protests are part of democracy and our rights as Americans, rioting and looting will not be tolerated.
 
Those who commit gun crimes will be put in jail and NOT released back onto the streets to prey on our communities.
 
Those who suffer from drug addiction will be offered compassion and treatment BUT drug dealers will be removed from our streets.
 
AND for our men and women in Blue, whether you are a Police Officer, Probation Officer, Corrections Officer or Bailiff, Delaware’s Attorney General will once again be supporting you and will have your back.
 

 COMMITMENT

 
My commitment to all of you is this: if elected to the Office of Attorney General, I will serve a full four-year term. I am running for “AG” – meaning Attorney General. I am not running for Aspiring Governor.  I have no desire to seek any other office. I am committed to this office and this office alone because the stakes are too high and the job is too important to be used for political purposes.  The Attorney General is the Chief Law Enforcement Official for the State of Delaware and the person who holds the office must be committed to it and that office alone.
 
 

 CONCLUSION

 Today I am asking that you join with me on this journey to bring back some sanity to Delaware’s Criminal Justice System.
 
          Let’s detain violent criminals!
 
          Let’s get tough on gun crime!
 
          Let’s remove drug dealers from our streets!
 
          Let’s prosecute looters!
 
          Let’s support law enforcement!
 
          Let’s protect the rights of law-abiding citizens!
 
 
And most importantly—
 
 

          LET’S MAKE CRIME ILLEGAL AGAIN!

 
 
THANK YOU!!