Gerald Hocker (R)

State Senate District 20

If elected, what would be your top three legislative initiatives?

  • Additional regulatory reform for small businesses in Delaware. Delaware needs to become more business friendly, helping small business startup and expand.
  • Lower taxes on businesses and creating incentives for job creation (good paying jobs). The cost of doing business in Delaware is much higher than other states (health insurance, workman’s comp, utility costs, licensure fees).
  • Help nonprofits expand. Expansion of nonprofits will save taxpayer dollars. Many nonprofits have been strapped by the government, preventing them to do much-needed jobs.

WORKFORCE/ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Do you support…

Right to Work legislation, including Enterprise Zones, and if elected, will you work to get the law enacted in Delaware? 

Yes.

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Strengthening federal, state and private investment to build an entrepreneurship and innovation ecosystem?
Yes.

EDUCATION

Do you support…

Reducing centralized State control over education and giving more autonomy and control over the operation of the education system to local county boards of education?
Yes.

In favor of consolidating Delaware’s 19 school districts to a smaller number?
No.

The City of Wilmington forming its own school district?
No.

Building Stronger Communities: How to Effectively Support Local Nonprofits 

In every community, nonprofits play a vital role in addressing social issues, providing essential services, and enriching the lives of residents.

The adoption of measures which would redirect per capita state and local Board of Education administrative costs into the classroom, knowing that Delaware is near the top of the nation in per capita central administration expenditures?
Yes.

Expanded education choice such as charter schools, education savings accounts, vouchers and homeschooling options? 

Yes.

The moratorium on new charter schools?
No.

INFRASTRUCTURE

Do you support…

An increase on the Motor Fuel Tax in order to support capacity expansion?
No.

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The development of additional natural gas capacity and pipelines to Kent and Sussex counties?
Yes.

The creation of incentives and the easing of hurdles to foster accelerated growth of broadband service Sussex County?
Yes.

The state of Delaware continuing to force taxpayers to fund beach infrastructure in the face of rising sea levels that threaten continued use of existing beachfront?
Yes.

A statewide reassessment of property values?
No.

Elimination of a property tax exemption for qualified senior citizens?
No.

LEGAL & REGULATORY REFORM

Mandatory and regular across-the-board legislative audits and performance review of all spending units in state government?
Yes.

Granting broader statutory powers to the Office of the Attorney General to assist the legislative auditor in audit and investigatory programs for all spending units of state government?
No.

A move toward ensuring that State employee benefits are commensurate with the private sector? 

Yes.

The redevelopment of industrial sites that have lost their grandfathered status under the Coastal Zone Act?
Yes.

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