Issues... click on a topic

Education:  The ultimate issue is providing and securing our children's future. To recognize and encourage their potential as it relates to future needs within our communities. Coming from a blue collar perspective job security can be maintained through creating a more employable student base. Vocational training across trades opens the door to a more utilitarian trainee with skill levels flexible enough to reach great potential value in the workplace. This goal of reaching training that supports the future job market will ultimately support the families that our children raise. Teaching to a test may have its percentage based merits; however, a percentage point placement on an analytical scale seldom will fulfill the needs in our communities job markets after graduation.

Jobs and Small Business Growth:  Jobs and small business growth are reliant on the hopeful ability that we as a society, may provide diverse, ambitious opportunities that result in future preparedness through robust leadership that can maintain and nurture a wonderful quality of life. Hard work and long hours that relate to small business can yield liberty, independence, and the pursuit of happiness as its own reward. If cultivated correctly we can grow job opportunity through Delaware's diverse resources. From the industry based in the North of the state, to the rural central part of Delaware's agricultural and active outdoors, to the tourism needs that flood our lower shores. These diversities lend themselves in coordination to sustainable job creation that serves our communities from the ground up. Understanding that all driving industries must be able to flourish in order to create a vast work base that supports and patronizes those that it serves. The ability to raise our families, find recreation, and work with such diversification requires great balance. Stewardship of these differences gives an edge to all Delawareans that choose to create a small business or apply themselves to the supportive work force.

Estuary: After working the Delaware waters for well over forty years, first hand knowledge leads to a realistic view that clean water and clean Delaware Shores are essential to our State. Shore community survival in Delaware often works hand in hand with the estuaries health and ability to rejuvenate itself. Large quantities of plastics within the water column of the Delaware Bay pose an issue that must be addressed. Entry capture of this pollutant through storm water runoff areas need improvement. Another is the ability of our sewer system infrastructure to prevent spillage of effluent into our waterways. These impacts should not be shrouded, but met head on with adequate facility management that provides all Delawareans and its natural inhabitants with good healthy water. Brighter indicators that show life is sustainable within our waterways and estuary may point to the fact that Bald Eagles and Bottlenose Dolphin populations are on the rise. One of the most uplifting of indicators is the increased dissolved oxygen content needed to support life has increased in the Delaware River and still must be maintained and improved upon to support our diverse eco-system. Commitment to estuary enhancement improves and preserves the heath, safety and welfare of all who are touched by Delaware's waterways.

Gun Rights: People of the 14th District may be reassured of Craig's opinion on Gun Rights. A unique small business that Craig has operated for over 35 years has offered him the opportunity to employ himself with a firearm outside of the enforcement field without incident. This small business has served hundreds of men, women and children with instructive, educated, interaction of shooting skills and environmental appreciation. Craig supports your second amendment rights. The 14th District has an abundance of rural open space that impedes police response times causing a need for home protection. The school constable program has merit as a protective measure for our children's safety.

Political Philosophy: Taking the advice from a long term Town of Leipsic Mayor , Craig's Grandfather has its benefits. Horace Pugh Sr. said "Son you can not know everything about every issue and experience will serve you well if you allow opinion and the free flow of thought from your constituency be your guide while forming decisions." The upshot learned while following this policy was that people are good at making decisions as long as they are provided transparent informative knowledge on an issue. Beyond this an informed knowledgeable debate can take place leaving a smaller amount of room in the discussion for divisive dysfunction. Eliminating dysfunctional government creates a satisfied constituent base that should ring out with the peoples voice, so they know it is of their own. Serving the community for many years in this manner has made the process as simple as water running off a duck's back thanks to those words offered by a small town community leader with a vision toward the future. Craig welcomes those future challenges that the !4th district may hold.