The Progressive Candidate for 10th District State Representative
Lifelong Delawarean. Democrat. Experience Matters. Stronger Schools, Support Working Families, Protecting the Environment
Constituent Services and Legislation
Serving The Community
Constituent Services is the prime role of your State Representative. Dennis is a lifelong resident of the district and during his time as Representative for the 10th RD built a record of accomplishment in making the 10th District a better place to live, work, and raise a family.
Issues
Dennis has a track record of accomplishment, while serving as Representative for the 10th RD, promoting and passing meaningful legislation to improve the lives of people in the district and throughout the state.
DONATE
Help my campaign build a strong financial foundation to get the message out and help me fight for strong schools, a clean environment, economic opportunity including worker's rights, and protecting our basic rights.
Thank you,
Dennis
About Dennis
Family and Education
Dennis is a lifelong Delawarean. He has lived in the 10th district, along Shipley Road, since he was four. Dennis went to Shipley Elementary School, Springer Junior High School, and graduated from Concord High School. He then went to the University of Delaware, where he received Bachelor Degrees in Accounting and in Financial Management.
His mother’s parents came to the US from Italy. They settled in Wilmington and for many years had a sub shop on Maryland Avenue. His mother worked in a defense plant during World War 2, then for many years as an LPN at the state hospital, then later worked part time at her sister’s sub shop on Naamans Road (across from Concord High) when Dennis was in school. His father’s parents came to the US from Ukraine. His father grew up on a farm in North Carolina and later with relatives in Brooklyn, NY. He moved to Wilmington in his late teens and worked as a brakeman on the railroad. After a few years he learned to operate heavy equipment (bulldozers, front end loaders, and cranes) after joining Local 542 of the Operating Engineers. Dennis had uncles and cousins in Local 542 and other building trade unions. Dennis was a member of Local 199 of the Laborer’s International Union of North America. He worked at the Chrysler Plant and the Delaware City Refinery, earning money to help pay for college.
With this background, Dennis has been a lifelong Democrat and lifelong supporter of organized labor. His focus has always been on working families and making government work for them.
Dennis’ parents didn’t graduate from high school. But they knew the value of education. His mother studied to become an LPN and his father learned to operate complicated equipment. They made sure that Dennis knew the value of education and sacrificed to enable him to go to college. Years after getting his degrees at Delaware, Dennis went back to school and earned his Master’s Degree in Technology Management at the University of Pennsylvania School of Engineering and Applied Science and The Wharton School. He was able to use that education and experience in his work and as the Representative from the 10thDistrict.
Dennis is a strong supporter of public education and of post high school education. Dennis’ son Edward graduated from Cab Calloway, attended Del Tech, earned his BS, BA, and Master’s Degree from the University of Delaware, and is currently in the PhD program at Drexel University.
But Dennis also knows that not everyone needs or wants to go to a 4 year college and has strongly supported Del Tech Community College and apprenticeship and trade schools.
Work
Dennis worked as an audit aide for the IRS and as an auditor for the Department of the Navy, working to save millions of taxpayer dollars. He then went on to work as a senior accountant, controller, and Chief Financial Officer for ICI Americas, Atlantic Aviation, and Sikorsky Aircraft. At Sikorsky Dennis was a controller, budget director, and was responsible for implementing rigorous internal accounting and financial controls. He managed a staff of 30 accounting, finance, and IT professionals. Sikorsky paid for Dennis to go back to school. He earned a Master’s degree in Technology Management for The Wharton School and the School of Engineering at the University of Pennsylvania.
After earning his degree, Dennis ran and was elected State Representative in the Delaware General Assembly. He served 6 years. Dennis served on the Revenue and Finance Committee, Economic Development Committee, and on the Joint Capital Infrastructure Budget Committee.
Dennis also worked as the CFO of Neilsen-Kellerman, a small manufacturing company in Boothwyn, PA, while serving in the Legislature.
After leaving the Legislature, Dennis became the CFO of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, in Center City Philadelphia. HSP was a non-profit research library and archive, housing thousands of important documents, including the first four drafts of the US Constitution.
After leaving HSP, Dennis found work at an organization that does work in an area that was the focus of much of his legislation during his time as a Representative. He is now the CFO of a leading environmental nonprofit in Delaware.
Non-Profit & Other
Dennis has volunteered for many non-profit organizations. He is currently the Opera Delaware Board Treasurer, Christina Conservancy Board Treasurer, and Delaware Center for Horticulture investment committee member. He previously was a board member of the Delaware Sustainable Energy Utility, worked with the Delaware Gridiron Dinner and Show, served as Candlelight Theater Board Treasurer and President, Wilmington Drama League Treasurer, Chapel Street Theater, City Theater, and Delaware Shakespeare volunteer, the Delaware State Chamber of Commerce Ambassador Committee,and the Delaware Wing of the Civil Air Patrol, the US Air Force Auxiliary, where he served as a Squadron Commander, Wing Public Affairs Officer, and earned his pilot’s license.
Dennis served for many years on the 10th RD Democratic Committee, including time as vice chair and chair of the committee.
Dennis also worked as a Ballroom Dance instructor for Fred Astaire Dance Studio in Wilmington and Philadelphia, and helped open new studios in Chicago, London, and Sydney, Australia. He also ran a small business, teaching group and private lessons at a studio in Fairfax shopping center and at the Brandywine Country Club.
Beaver Dam Road Repairs, Flood Plain Meeting, Watershed Cleanup
Dennis at Leg Hall, AFL CIO Parade, DEW with ILA, Marriage Equality
Dennis - Lifelong Democrat with a couple of other lifelong Democrats
Welcome
Dennis is the former 10th District State Representative, he served six years. He has the experience and skills we need.
Let's send Dennis back to the House of Representatives.
Please vote for Dennis in the Democratic Primary on 09/10/24.