McGuiness wins close 3-way Democratic primary for auditor

The News Journal

Kathy McGuiness celebrated her victory in the Democratic primary at Grotto's Pizza in downtown Rehoboth Beach.

Putting an end to an unusually contentious primary for state auditor, Kathy McGuiness has won the Democratic nomination and will face Republican James Spadola in the November general election.

McGuiness didn't immediately respond to calls for comment.

The three Democratic candidates received the following number of votes:

Kathleen Davies - 27,748 (34.93 percent)

Kathy McGuiness - 33,340 (41.85 percent)

Dennis Williams - 18,431 (23.22 percent)

Democratic turnout in the election was 25.38 percent.

This year's auditor's race has drawn more interest than most.

For one, current auditor Tom Wagner's resignation in May opened the door for Delaware's Democratic Party, which hasn't had one of its own in the office since Dennis Greenhouse was elected New Castle County executive in 1989 and resigned.

The race has also seen a fair amount of intrigue. Davies, who once worked for Wagner as his chief administrative officer, was fired in December for violating generally accepted government auditing standards, among other things.

She has contested the charges, and in June the Department of Labor's unemployment division ruled that Wagner did not have sufficient cause for terminating her.

The state's Merit Employee Relations Board has yet to draw a conclusion, however.

It began reviewing her firing in July, but the second part of the hearing was postponed because one of its members had a medical emergency. Now, the board may not issue a ruling on the case until after the Nov. 6 general election.

In the meantime, a confidential report obtained by The News Journal last month and commissioned by Wagner says Davies violated the financial standards the state office is tasked with upholding. Davies appears to have created a “hostile workplace environment” where employees felt threatened and unable to report violations for fear of retribution, the report said.

Kathy McGuiness puts a sticker on campaign worker Jack Young as Voters head to the polls on Primary Election Day in Delaware, Thursday September 6th.

THE DAVIES-WAGNER SAGA

Lawmakers demand leak investigation into Kathleen Davies report

Confidential report claims abuse of power, 'hostile workplace' in state Auditor's Office

Ruling: Auditor didn't have sufficient cause to dismiss Kathleen Davies

State Auditor, Kathy McGuiness walks to vote in Rehoboth Beach, as voters head to the polls on Primary Election Day in Delaware, Thursday September 6th.

John Fluharty, who works for Wagner and is the former executive director for the Delaware Republican Party, said: "Democratic voters sent a clear message to Kathleen Davies tonight."

"Don't go away mad, just go away."

As the winner of Thursday's primary, McGuiness will go on to face Republican and former Newark Police Department officer James Spadola in the Nov. 6 general election.

Fifty-one years old, she is a certified fraud examiner, is a pharmacist and small-business owner who has served on Rehoboth's board of commissioners for 17 years, most recently winning re-election in 2017. She finished third in the six-candidate contest for Delaware lieutenant governor in 2016.

Kathy McGuiness leaves the voting booth at the Rehoboth Fire station as Voters headed to the polls on Primary Election Day in Delaware, Thursday September 6th.

OTHER PRIMARY RESULTS

Kendra Johnson overwhelmingly takes House District 5 Democratic primary

Kathy Jennings wins Democratic nod for Delaware attorney general

Carper wins 30-point victory over Kerri Harris in U.S. Senate primary

Contact Jessica Bies at (302) 324-2881 or jbies@delawareonline.com. Follow her on Twitter @jessicajbies.