County exec candidate withdraws, claiming dirty politics



A candidate has withdrawn from the race for New Castle County executive, and blames dirty politics.

"It appears that this is, basically, politics. They are looking to try to find any reason to eliminate a viable candidate from running against Paul Clark. I think it will be a distraction to the election."

Rich Krett says he leaving the race reluctantly after being told a federal grant application with his name on it may disqualify him.

Krett says his name was included without his knowledge, and that his candidacy may violate the Hatch Act. Krett is assistant chief for the county paramedic service, as well as president of the AFSCME Union Local 3109. The grant application was for the purchase of a driving simulator in the training of emergency responders.

Krett says he will evaluate the issue with his legal counsel.

Assistant attorney for New Castle County Ed Danberg says he informed Krett last week that he would be in violation of the Hatch Act unless he resigned his position or withdrew his candidacy.

Danberg says it's his opinion the Office of Special Counsel would have told Krett he was in violation.

"Whether he went to the Office of Special Counsel or whether I filed the complaint, it would be the same result, they would investigate and make a determination."

Danberg says he doesn't know how Krett's name came to be on the federal grant application. Danberg says he also had to tell former County Executive Tom Gordon back in 1996 that he would have to resign as county police chief before he could run.

WDEL 1150AM - County exec candidate withdraws, claiming dirty politics