This weekend brings that somewhat ineffable smell of spring to the nostrils.  The odor that revives hopes and makes one believe there is a great deal we can still salvage from what promises to be a challenging calendar year.  I like the return of spring.  It revives my hopes as much as the next fellow’s dreams and despite the aging required to reach this point once a year I can accept my graying hair as part of a grander plan.  This is just my second spring outside of Upstate New York. 

The first was in Vermont and unlike Delaware those northern places were buried in snow well through March and in some cases well into April.  I have waded deep snows Mother’s Day and in some respects winter on Delmarva is nothing more than a prolonged autumn getting dragged into spring.

It’s new for me.  My 7 dollar snow shovel had two brief workouts and still shines as the day I carried it home from Food Lion. 

With so much new I arrive this spring free of many prejudices and judgments.  This website has been filled with extreme thoughts and words about a man once revered for his efforts in public office, then scorned and perhaps now offered new political life.  I’ve met the man.  He’s pleasant, as are a great many people I encounter as a member of the local media.  When you can confer access to a microphone and large audiences there are many friends.  When you can’t, as 15 months of my life proved before arriving here, then friends aren’t easy to find.  I’m not planning any great endorsements on the local level and all I can say is I also like the man succeeding Mr. Atkins. 

These people come from similar stock.  Small town Americans who believe a way of life is vanishing and we need to protect what made us great.  There are differing opinions on how we get there.  Shades for the same hopes on a narrow spectrum of possibility.

I’m no saint.  My life has been filled with drinking, smoking, brawling, gambling, near vagrancy and broken relationships.  None of this in reflection of the past would I’ve traded for a life of boredom and contentment.  Political animals, I suspect, are of much the same stuff.  It’s the belief you can do the work better than the other guy.  Even if there are few differences in work ethic, creed and desire. 

Which raises the question, how come Atkins isn’t running for Governor?  This is a small state.  It isn’t opinion it’s fact.  There are County executives in many parts of the country with larger constituencies.  Strategy would argue you don’t take the same hill twice.  It also would allow the man has great name recognition in all three counties.  Maybe it’s not a glowing recommendation but his past is going to be a factor no matter what office he seeks.  Then why not shoot for the moon?

Judging by what I read the two Democrats have raised gobs of money and there is little in the way of serious Republican opposition.  Money in Texas or California or New York is a big deal as there are numerous “media markets”.  Unlike those behemoths a candidate in Delaware just needs to show up and there is media available.  No need for a news conference when you can go to the media.  And the barbecues and parades and festivals are at every turn and the turns are so few.

Considering Mr. Atkins seeks redemption then it’s time to put the chips on one number and to go for broke.  The constituency has its own flaws and long ago learned Jesus isn’t running.  For crying out loud these people gave us Ruth Ann Minner.