DOVER, DE - Six Delaware State Senate Republicans are calling on Governor John Carney to remove Delaware Department of Agriculture (DDA) Secretary Michael Scuse from office following an investigation by Delaware’s Public Integrity Commission.
As previously reported by WBOC, a formal complaint by the Public Integrity Commission was released this week, which claims Scuse allowed payment to DDA employees for boarding animals seized by the state without making those contracts publicly available to bid.
In a letter sent to the Governor Thursday, November 9th, the State Senators say Scuse’s behavior and “apparent nepotism” foster public mistrust of the Delaware government. They also note in their letter that Scuse’s own Deputy Attorney General advised him not to pay his employees to take the animals, but Scuse ignored the legal counsel.
“Agriculture is Delaware’s number one economic industry, and it is vital that the department overseeing it has the trust of those within the industry,” the letter to the Governor reads. “Quotes in media reports from those interviewed and personal conversations we have had with farmers display a great level of concern with the DDA and its current leadership.”
The State Senators go on to say the restoration of trust in the DDA will only begin when Secretary Scuse is removed from his office, and urge Carney to do so immediately.
The six Republicans who signed the letter to Carney are:
Senate Republican Leader Gerald Hocker, 20th District
Senate Republican Whip Brian Pettyjohn, 19th District
Senator Dave Lawson, 15th District
Senator Bryant Richardson, 21st District
Senator David Wilson, 18th District
Senator Eric Buckson, 16th District
Senator Lawson previously spoke with WBOC to voice his concerns surrounding the seizure of animals by the Department of Agriculture and payments made to the Department’s employees.
