Letter to the Editor - response to Dave Lawson

A letter to the residents of the 15^th Senatorial District and Dave Lawson:

 Recently the incumbent for the 15^th District Senate seat sent out a post card that diminishes and belittles the accomplishments of both me and the Democratic candidate, Katie Cooke.  Ms. Cooke has made her own response to Mr. Lawson.  Here is mine. 

 I have not been telling my life’s story at the public debates, because I am campaigning on constituent responsiveness, outreach to constituents regarding legislation, and the commitment to actually vote on all the issues brought before the General Assembly.

 Mr. Lawson’s postcard lists my accomplishments as “animal rights advocate” and “dance instructor.”  He completely ignores – or is unaware of - my professional business experience, which includes administrative work for international firms, the NYC Police Department, the DE Dept. of Transportation and currently, the federally-mandated Dover/Kent County Metropolitan Planning Organization.

He refers to me as an “animal rights advocate.”  This is incorrect.  I began as an activist for oversight and accountability of a local shelter; now I am an activist for reform of the legislation regarding animal welfare and control.  That reform includes oversight, accountability and enforcement of Delaware’s laws concerning humane treatment of animals in shelters, and the same for the laws concerning dog control, specifically because they affect pet owners – people, not animals.  And I have been involved in animal rescue for over 20 years.

But Mr. Lawson is most mistaken in dismissing me as a “dance instructor” – although I am very proud of my work in teaching young dancers.  I have been a professional dancer, educator, choreographer and stage manager for almost 40 years.  Highlights of this career include:  Teaching for the DE Institute for the Arts in Education, for both the Lincoln Center and Wolf Trap Early Learning models; former students performing and teaching throughout the country; a partnership in a dance studio;  awards for my choreography; professional memberships; and an article published in Dance Studio Life, a national magazine.  Teaching dance to children and teens is as specialized as teaching…..fire arms.  And it requires a lot longer to master the craft.

My dance company, Itinerant Dance Theater, has been performing for almost 20 years throughout Delaware and in Maryland, Washington, DC, New York City and Philadelphia, PA.  IDT was formed to perform in underserved areas, and has volunteered performances for Dover Air Force Base, the DE Hospice Festival of Trees, Milford’s Bug and Bud Festival, the Middletown Peach Festival and the DE State Fair.  This is in addition to our contracted performances that have included First Night Annapolis, Dover and Wilmington and libraries throughout Delaware.

My family has been in Delaware since 1964.  I am a graduate of Dover High School.  My mother, now 86, was on the Capital School Board for 5 years.  We live in the home my parents built in 1965.   My experience, commitment and community involvement is not the issue here.  How I believe the job of state senator should be performed, that is the issue.