Campaign Phone
(302)545-4300
Neighborhood/area of residence
Cotswold Hills
Education
Archmere Academy, Widener University, RETS Electronic Schools, Eastern University
Work Experience
Hewlett-Packard (HP) - Engineer 15years, Take The Lead Dance Studio - Owner/Director (Founder 2006), PAWS For People - Volunteer and Site Coordinator 2022/23
Community Involvement
Statewide Election Lead - Delaware (Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America), Therapy Team/ Trainer/ Board Member (PAWS for People), Advocacy Corps Member, Education Portfolio Member/Chair (League of Women Voters), Non-Medical Volunteer (Delaware Medical Response Corps), Vice-Chair RD 22/ Committee Member RD23 (Delaware Democratic Party), Executive Board Member - Friends of Christina School District (FOCSD), President - Cotswold Hills Maintenance Corporation, Coach - University of Delaware Ballroom Dance Team, Volunteer - Delaware Valley Golden Retriever Rescue, Member - Hockessin Business Association, Member - New Castle County Chamber of Commerce, Board Member - Greater Hockessin Area Development Association (GHADA), Pet Therapy Volunteer - Christiana Care
Delaware families are losing ground — on opportunity, security, and community. I hear it at every door in District 23.
Costs are outpacing paychecks. I'll fight for affordable housing, universal pre-K, and lower healthcare costs.
Our schools need real equity and funding that works — I'll push this year's formula reform through and hold it accountable for results.
As rights are rolled back federally, Delaware must codify them at home: reproductive freedom, LGBTQ+ protections, voting rights, and gun safety laws I helped pass with Moms Demand Action.
And I'll fight unchecked AI data centers — my engineering background means I know their real costs, and I'll push for guardrails that protect our communities, not this industry.
The number of unhoused in Delaware is unacceptable and moving in the wrong direction. Only 41 affordable rentals exist for every 100 extremely low-income households.
I'll fight to fully fund eviction diversion and legal aid, so families facing eviction aren't outmatched in court. I'll push to finish the Homeless Bill of Rights that stalled in the legislature. And I'll fight for sustained, dedicated funding to build deeply affordable housing — sited with real access to transit, jobs, and services, not isolated from the infrastructure people need to actually get back on their feet.
Housing alone isn't enough if it's disconnected from the necessities that make stability possible.
I don't have to guess where I stand — I helped write this record. As a responsible gun owner and longtime Statewide Lead with Moms Demand Action, I fought to pass Delaware's assault weapons ban, our safe storage law, and permit-to-purchase for handguns. These laws are on the books, they've survived court challenges, and they're working.
I'll defend every one of them against efforts to weaken or repeal them, including concealed carry reciprocity. And I'll push to fully fund enforcement, close remaining loopholes, and invest in community violence intervention. This isn't a new issue for me — I've sat across the table from legislators to get it done, and I'm not backing down.
Having battled a life threatening autoimmune disease for 8 years, navigating costly private and public healthcare options - this hits close to home.
Delaware has some of the highest per-capita healthcare costs in the country, and for nearly a decade we've missed our own spending benchmark. This year's reforms, including Senate Bill 1, are a real step — redirecting spending toward primary care, reining in hospital pricing, and restricting private equity ownership of hospitals. I'll fight to see it enforced, not just signed into law.
Long term, Delaware needs to expand our primary care workforce, lower prescription drug costs, and protect Delawareans from federal Medicaid cuts and rising premiums.
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Strongly agree
Campaign Phone
5039561884
Neighborhood/area of residence
Nottingham Green
Education
BA Business Administration, Western Washington University (2002); Master Brewers Certificate, UC Davis (2006)
Work Experience
Owner and Master Brewer, Musings Fermentation Underground (2017-2024); Expirimental Brewer, Victory Brewing Company (2015-2017); Lead Brewer, Deschutes Brewing Company (2012-2015); Head Brewer, Oakshire Brewing Company (2008-2012); Brewer, Pyramid Brewing Company (2006-2008)
Community Involvement
City of Newark Parking Advisory Committee (current), Volunteer canvassing, Kamala Harris Campaign (2024); Volunteer, Brewer's Association Hill Climb (2023; 2024); Volunteer, Lenape Tribe of Delaware Fork Branch Restoration (2023; 2024); Volunteer phone-bank, Tom Carper Campaign (2016); Volunteer, McKenzie River Trust Riparian Restoration (2008); Volunteer, Potomac Vegetable Farms (2003-2005); Volunteer, Chrysalis Vineyards (2003-2005)
Additional Information
We are on TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@joejasperfor23
Affordability. Education. Climate Change. People are feeling the crisis of affordability at the grocery counter, the gas pump, and on the first of the month. Energy prices are skyrocketing and we must protect Delawareans from the potential energy and water impacts of data centers. The children of the state of Delaware deserve access to a free and robust public education. I will support measures to fund the hybrid model and support our public schools through the funding transition. We all noticed a much colder winter this last year, and we are actively experiencing a hotter summer. Additional resources and funding must be prioritized and made easily accessible to those in need and to protect Delaware’s air and water quality.
Housing is a human right. I would work with the Delaware Housing Alliance to craft legislation that supports their knowledge and priorities. This could include creating the Affordable Housing Production Fund to subsidize affordable housing for rentals and homeownership and/or reducing the transfer fees charged by the state when homes change ownership. I would support measures that use public funding to build affordable housing units. We need to keep the unhoused population safe by making sure there is shelter available, especially during inclement weather. I would oppose measures that seek to criminalize homelessness. I would support measures to increase Housing First initiatives that get people into residences and off the street.
I will support all legislation aimed at reducing harm from guns. We’ve created a state office for Gun Violence Prevention and Community Safety, now we need to make sure it is staffed and well-resourced. Delaware is among the states with the strongest gun laws, but gun violence is still prevalent, so I would work with Moms Demand Action, Students Demand Action, Everytown for Gun Safety, and BE SMART Delaware to hear what legislation is needed. In addition to strengthening safe storage laws and maintaining the assault-style weapons ban I would support consumer safety measures such as childproofing, microstamping technology, and relinquishment for domestic abusers.
Healthcare affordability is a huge issue and it will take a coalition to work on multiple different measures to address this problem. I will bring many actors to the table to consider how to address costs in health systems, and consider where drug companies, insurers and suppliers may play a role. I would support measures that lower drug and device costs and reduce administrative waste. I also would support measures that work to address administrative burden in caregiving spaces and the increasing cost of inputs for caregivers. Quality healthcare includes reproductive healthcare and I will support measures that expand access to abortion, including SB 5, which enshrines the right to reproductive freedom in the state constitution.
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Strongly agree
Neighborhood/area of residence
Papermill Falls
Education
Ph.D., Rutgers University, M.B.A., Vanderbilt University, B.A., Duke University
Work Experience
James R. Soles Professor and Chair, Department of Political Science and International Relations, University of Delaware since 2016. Prior to that I taught at Rutgers University and the University of Iowa. Before becoming a professor I spent 8 years in information technology, directing computing operations first at Fisk University and then Moravian College.
Community Involvement
Treasurer, 23rd RD Democratic Committee; Member, Newark Board of Elections; Member, DE Civics Education Coalition; Vice-Chair, Rank the Vote Delaware; Treasurer, Friends of the University of Delaware Library; Mikva Challenge Delaware Project Soapbox; Member, ACLU; Treasurer and Board Member, Middlesex County (NJ) Court Appointed Special Advocates.
Additional Information
In prior communities I have served as a Planning Commission Chair (in PA), and as an elected member of a township governing body (in NJ); I also have been a Democratic activist for decades, including attending the 2008 Democratic National Convention as an elected delegate.
The affordability crisis is real. In particular, utility costs are rising far too fast and data centers will only make it worse. Data centers cannot be allowed to cost all of us while billionaires take the profits; I will oppose them until the financial and environmental costs are not passed on to all of us.
Housing is also a serious problem; Solutions include rent stabilization programs and removing barriers to affordable housing.
Every child has the right to a top-notch public education. To get there we must do more to make sure funding gets where it is needed, support services are available to children, and educators who work both in and out of the classroom are properly compensated.
See Davefor23.com/issues for much more detail.
Our unhoused neighbors must have necessary support services to deal first with the immediate crisis of no shelter while also setting up the necessary context for permanent housing. The key here is "housing first." Those who are unhoused and have various support needs must first be housed in a stable environment, after which other issues can be addressed. Requiring that people become "clean" (for example) before being eligible for housing is self-defeating.
Further, the New Ark United Church of Christ housing plan on Main St. is an amazing example of what can be done in the context of low/moderate income housing.
If elected, I will meet with housing experts, researchers, advocates, and those who are unhoused to seek solutions.
I have received the Gun Sense Candidate distinction from Moms Demand Action. I strongly support legislation designed to reduce the scourge of gun violence in our communities.
We all struggle with rising healthcare costs. A key reason is our for-profit insurance system and the rise of Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBM). We must continue pushing to lower costs, increase availability of providers, and insist that non-profit hospitals fully carry out the mission required of their status. Some new laws will help: SB13 expands care for lower income patients mandated of non-profit health systems. SB1 requires insurers spend more on primary care, and phases in price caps, although not until 2029. More regulation is needed of PBMs, which focus on profits over people, to limit their ability to deny needed prescriptions. Reproductive care is also healthcare, and reproductive rights must be written into our Constitution.
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Strongly agree
Campaign Phone
302-533-8920
Neighborhood/area of residence
Evergreen in Newark
Education
Newark High School, Attended Ohio University for broadcast management, graduated from the University of Delaware in Communications
Work Experience
Local production company work in industrial and corporate safety, Fire service training production, New Castle County Emergency Medical Services for almost 33 years, retired as the Assistant Chief of Operations
Community Involvement
An active volunteer member of Aetna Hose, Hook and Ladder Company serving in number roles over forty six plus years. Stepped down as President after serving eight years working with City, County and State elected officials to better support the fire service. Spent some time years ago volunteering for Habitat for Humanity projects in the area. During my career with New Castle County we annually participated in pulling together Thanksgiving Food baskets and distribution of toys for kids at Christmas, all in conjunction with the Ministry of Caring. Most recently as a member of the Newark Morning Rotary we have been involved in a number of projects to support veterans issues and other needs in our schools and the community at large.
Additional Information
While at NCCEMS I was involved in several projects that addressed out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. This included training groups of first responders to work in an organized team to insure better outcomes. Another program brought together cardiac arrest survivors and the pre-hospital team - bystanders, 911 call takers, police, firefighters, EMTs and Paramedics - and recognized them for their efforts, while giving the survivor a chance to meet those involved with saving their life. Recently I was recognized by the Newark Morning Rotary for my commitment as the Rotarian of the Year.
Getting Delaware's public education back up to top tier status is paramount to the future of the State. If we fail here, nothing else matters. We need to have a sense of urgency and begin implementing some of the discussed recommendations. If we need to tweak things as we go along, so be it, but let's move now. 6-8 years to fully ramp up is unacceptable. 3-4 years is slow but doable if given the urgency it needs.
Once we fix education piece we can begin to better attract small and medium size businesses. This in turn will help build out revenue streams that will support the State with good jobs and taxes.
Taking these above steps will make us less dependent on large companies incorporated in the State who have no skin in Delaware.
There are a variety of nonprofits working in this space who could use more focused support from the State. Logistics, data, networking with agencies and financial support are all areas that could benefit these groups. The idea that Georgetown has adopted with a pallet village is a concept that should be further developed - providing the homeless a temporary place to get themselves grounded, with supervision and ready access to referral services can have a powerful impact on this population.
Education about basic safety and storage of guns should be part of the licensing process. Holding adults accountable for a child gaining access to a gun who has no training should also be considered legislatively. A challenge is that there a many many "assault weapons" in the hands of citizens who purchased them properly, store them properly, and legally use them. I am challenged to see the need for these, but also understand the rights of those who have had them for years. High round magazines may be an area where legislation could make some restrictions. However we seem to be up against the Supreme Court who has shot down other attempts to restrict weapon types and sales.
It sounds like the governor has signed legislation to make healthcare more affordable and keep prices down. The addition of a medical school in the State should also assist with increasing the number of physicians in the State and should eventually increase competition. On the payer end, for individuals and small businesses perhaps the State could introduce a healthcare savings account that workers could move money into pretax. This may be complicated if you are not a State employee, but there seems to be plenty of ways to move money - if there is the desire we should be able to make it happen. But having more primary care physicians available to our residents is the first big step - providing critical preventive medicine is the key.
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