Your feedback ensures we stay focused on the facts that matter to you most—take our survey.
Meghan Kelly
Meghan Kelly (Democratic Party) ran for election to the Delaware House of Representatives to represent District 38. Kelly lost in the general election on November 6, 2018.
Kelly completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2018. Click here to read the survey answers.
Biography
Meghan Kelly attended Indian River High School, University of Delaware, and Duquesne School of Law. Her professional experience includes working at the Richards, Layton, and Finger law firm starting in 2006.[1]
Elections
2018
General election
General election for Delaware House of Representatives District 38
Incumbent Ronald Gray defeated Meghan Kelly in the general election for Delaware House of Representatives District 38 on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Ronald Gray (R) | 65.7 | 9,635 |
 | Meghan Kelly (D)  | 34.3 | 5,019 | |
| Total votes: 14,654 (100.00% precincts reporting) | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Delaware House of Representatives District 38
Meghan Kelly advanced from the Democratic primary for Delaware House of Representatives District 38 on September 6, 2018.
Candidate | ||
| ✔ | | Meghan Kelly |
| ||||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Delaware House of Representatives District 38
Incumbent Ronald Gray advanced from the Republican primary for Delaware House of Representatives District 38 on September 6, 2018.
Candidate | ||
| ✔ | | Ronald Gray |
| ||||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Campaign themes
2018
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Meghan Kelly completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Kelly's responses.
What would be your top three priorities, if elected?
1. Preserving the Environment: I intend to draft and amend laws to make the wrong doer, not the tax payer, clean up the pollution. Make it easier for an attorney to correct bad behavior by removing certain obstacles within the statutes, eliminate defenses, expand standing to additional plaintiffs, require monetary and specific performance, talk to the environmental section of the bar and work to create a legislative solution to alleviate this problem. My opponent Representative Ronald Gray co-sponsored amendments to House Bill 190, legislation that removes the ban on the construction of new heavy industry in coastal areas. We must draft laws to make polluting entities clean up their current messes before we may unknowingly create additional threats to human life and health by encouraging the construction of additional plants. 2. Seek Improvements on Infrastructure: I intend to seek a greater amount of money from the state of Delaware to improve our roads, schools and to maintain our beaches from the state in hopes not to increase local taxes. Many of my neighbors are land rich, but wage poor. They simply cannot afford an increase in local taxes as that may push them out of their homes. Delaware is number two in the country for foreclosures. I choose to alleviate the foreclosure crisis, not exacerbate it. I also intend to seek ways to slow down the building boom to decrease the congestion problem. Our infrastructure cannot sustain the current population. We must improve, maintain and preserve our infrastructure before building it up more. We need to create an atmosphere of success not failure. 3. Improve Health Care: Please refer to the article I drafted in the Coastal Point, called Representative candidate says health is wealth, dated July 20, 2018, which outlines my proposals to improve the quality of health care. I studied the history of health care at University of Delaware, and health care law and health care finance at law school. So, I also proposed laws to federal legislators that would reduce the cost of health care without eliminating the quality or quantity of care.
What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?
With regards to campaign finance, I choose to be part of the solution, not part of the problem. I am not going to accept monetary donations during my campaign to prevent the appearance of undue influence or favoritism, except by the Democrat party. (They cannot buy me. I am already theirs. I am a lifelong Democrat.) Nor am I going to give monetary donations, or attend events that require fees as that may create the appearance of buying votes. So, I intend to attend free events that will not cost attendees or me any money. My platform includes: 1. Infrastructure, 2. the Environment, 3. Clean Water, and 4. Healthcare, but I intend to do so much more to help people. I will uphold Delawareans' freedom and fair application of the laws regardless of race, religion, age, wealth or poverty. Every citizen is important and valuable to our community. My Goal is to:
- Amend and draft laws that better serve Delawareans
- Focus on serving people, and preventing abuse and corruption by those who seek to take advantage of Delawareans for profit or gain
- Work on solving problems while holding individuals and businesses receiving funds personally accountable for loss and self dealing
- Uphold Delawareans' freedom and fair application of laws regardless of race, religion, gender, wealth or poverty. Every citizen is important and valuable to our community.
Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?
My father, the legendary Coach, Pat Kelly is my hero. He was a beloved basketball coach and Civics and United States History teacher at Indian River High School for about 20 years. My dad is and continues to be a positive role model for not only students and his family, but to the world too. He lifted black students up through basketball at my former high school, a football school where prejudice sadly remains. My father used to stay late and tutor students after school. He used his own money to buy them shoes. My mom visited their loved ones at prisons. My dad looked for scholarships and helped seek opportunities for students to lift them out of poverty. My dad loved those kids, and continues to stay in touch with many, decades later. He is always available to offer encouragement and hope. Unfortunately, my father left ten years ago to teach and coach high school basketball in Florida. So, his impact has weakened in Sussex County, Delaware. In 2016, students at Indian River High School gave black students bracelets with the Nazi symbol that allegedly said "kill yourself" in response to the Black lives matter bracelets. That was awful. My father is my hero because he chooses to do what is right even if he is the only one who has the courage to do so. I choose to do the same by standing up when others remain down out of fear, for speaking up when others choose not to be inconvenienced, for choosing to do what is right even if it costs me everything. My dad lives the life he desires others to emulate by respecting and honoring all people regardless of their wealth or poverty, race, diverse religion, place of origin, age or unique beliefs. He truly lives a life of love and encouragement. I hope to do half the good he has done. My father, Pat Kelly, also life guarded at the Delaware beaches, and taught Sunday School at Saint Anne's Located at Bethany Beach. He also has the best dance moves in our family. He made living a life of love look cool and is the hero of many beyond his own. Thank you Dad. I love you.
Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?
The Bible. I try to live by it by: -Serving people, not taking advantage of them for gain. "The greatest among you is your servant." Matthew 23:11. Not servant of those who serve you thereby serving yourself. - having faith instead of fear, .-loving instead of remaining indifferent or hating, -instilling hope instead of bitterness, or despair, - using the laws of the courts to correct people, not to condemn them, -instilling mercy and teaching opportunities, not condemnation, -building up not tearing down, -serving people, not serving greed, -loving people, not loving power, not loving money, -love not evil. I define evil as absence of love for those beyond your own, -seeking solutions to alleviate challenges instead of seeking someone or something to blame, -building up, not to tearing down, -remaining humble and grateful instead of glorifying self or mere man, -Lead in truth, not in deception. Be a leader not a misleader, - remaining impartial and fair. Do not serve merely those who serve you. That is wrong.
What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?
"The greatest among you is your servant." 23:11. I hope to model good leadership by serving people, not serving greed. I hope to teach people they are priceless, not a price tag. People are more valuable than money. I hope to teach people to encourage one another by building each other up instead of shaming each other and tearing each other down. I hope to teach people to respect others while respectfully disagreeing. I hope to teach people to attack problems, not create more problems by attacking people. I hope to serve people well.
What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?
I have been licensed to practice law for more than ten years in this state. I have reviewed proposed laws periodically starting in 2006 at Richards, Layton and Finger, and throughout the years since, and I have discovered a strong desire to draft and amend laws to better serve Delawareans. So, I found myself filing to run for office in hopes I could improve the lives of people in the community I grew up in and love. I desire to draft laws that actually work, that are enforceable, and that make a difference. I will combat corruption, abuse and misuse of funds and resources to protect those I hope to serve, the people, not our own backs. I gained expertise working for several firms in Delaware. I have experience representing clients in hearings and meditations, as well as in corporate law, bankruptcy, personal injury, wills and estates, real estate transactions, and general litigation. I am also licensed to teach, and worked for the Indian River School and Cape Henlopen School Districts. I have worked throughout the Delaware beaches in my youth, from age 14 on, and I am delighted for the opportunity to serve the people in the community I grew up in and love as a legislator.
What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?
* Amend and draft laws that better serve Delawareans.
- Focus on serving people, and preventing abuse and corruption by those who seek to take advantage of Delawareans for profit or gain.
- Work on solving problems while holding individuals and businesses receiving funds personally accountable for loss and self dealing
- Uphold Delawareans' freedoms and fair application of the laws regardless of race, religion, gender, age, wealth or poverty. Every citizen is important and valuable to our community.
- Listening and looking into the needs of those I hope to serve. Preparing them for challenges ahead without giving empty promises.
What legacy would you like to leave?
I hope to draft laws that will improve the lives of those I hope to serve well beyond my life time. I also hope to teach people the following: - What makes America great is the people. Without the people this country is just a bunch of land. What makes America great is Americans' universal respect for the freedoms of speech, assembly, religion or place of origin. - Serve people, Not Greed. - People are Priceless, Not a Price Tag. - Invest in yourself. You are worth it. People are priceless. - No one is above the law. No one is below the law. - Violence is the problem, not the solution. - Use Words Not weapons. Words become Ideas. Ideas become beliefs. People cling more tightly to beliefs than money. Words are powerful. - Greed is the evil seed that blooms into hate. Businessmen give business to those who give business to them. Their kids take over their businesses and send business to each other. So, the tradition continues. When alleged outsiders, (from desegregation, the women's right movement, and immigrants), started to compete for the same business, businessmen began to fear losing money. So they misbehaved by name calling, bias, prejudice, black balling and worse. Be courageous, respect, not cowardly by hate. - Do not make jokes based on race, religion, gender or nationality. When they go beyond a joke, it is no laughing matter. - There is no Delaware way. There is an American way where we respect all people regardless of race, religion or place of origin (even Pennsylvania). - Women are Someone to respect. They are not Something to look at, use, or do. Women are people not things. - Do not laugh at jokes that sexualize women. They are not funny. When they go beyond a joke, it is no laughing matter. - Confront to correct, not to condemn, or let it slide off your back whichever is more loving. - Attack problems, not people. Attacking problems solve them. Attacking people creates more problems. - Courts are for correction, not condemnation. - Pride is ugly. Putting others down, while saying you are better than is ugly. Respect, now that is beautiful. Building others up, without tearing others apart. Praising someone, without putting others down. - Serve People not Money. Serve People, not People's desire for security in money (otherwise known as Greed). Love People, not Money.
What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?
With regards to the first historical event in my history, in Middle School, I ran for office and won. I remember Jennifer Hickman was my campaign manager. She played Bon Jove's song about signs as I walked down to speak. Later, in 10th grade, I was nominated to Girl's State where I was elected to be the Speaker of the House during a mock legislative race. I remember in my speech I chose not to bore people on all the credentials and activities I participated in. Instead, I said I would serve them well by speaking well, and I won. I have a fire in my belly to act and participate in drafting laws, not merely comment on the side. This is part of the history that led me to file to run for the House of Representatives in the 38th District.
What was your very first job? How long did you have it?
I think I baby sat before I was 14. When I was 14, I worked at a grocery store in Bethany Beach. I don't remember the time frame or how long I worked.
What happened on your most awkward date?
When I was young, I played on the boys' soccer team at Indian River High School, with the Democratic candidate for Treasurer for the State of Delaware, Colleen Davies. At the end of the season Coach Dunkin Smith gave me toothpaste and a tooth brush as a gag gift since it looked like a smiled when I accidentally hurt boys on the soccer field. Kris McClure, the cutest guy in high school, received a heart because he had me for a girl friend for a limited time. Kris was so sweet. He invited me to the movies at Clayton on a Sunday night, but I was so late. I fear an hour late because I went to church and Sunday school. It was CCD Sunday school night after all. He patiently waited for me outside of the movie theatre the entire time That was the worst date ever, but it was my fault. I am sorry Kris. It is a good thing we broke up because his political values, his heart is different than mine. I serve people, not greed, not my own sinful desires. He appears to be on the other side of the political aisle, 20 years later. Regardless, thank you for being a gentleman when we were children. You showed me honor and respect on all other dates too. I pray your heart turns away from the misleadership of President Trump. You know my heart. I have not changed. I am like my father. I like who I am, who I choose to be. I am not ashamed because I try not to give into temptation by serving sins. I don’t want to mislead people into thinking evil is good.
What is your favorite holiday? Why?
Christmas, because I love to focus on God's love, mercy and salvation extended to the gentiles like me, through the birth of Jesus Christ.
What is your favorite book? Why?
The Bible. I live by the Word of God.
If you could be any fictional character, who would you want to be?
No one. I choose to be me.
What is your favorite thing in your home or apartment? Why?
The Bible. I place my faith in the Word of God.
What was the last song that got stuck in your head?
Wildest Dream by Taylor Swift. I was so impressed with her courage to speak out on important issues in political campaigns, though others disagreed. I applaud her for living in faith with tolerance and respect for those beyond her own. It takes great courage to love. Plus, I like dancing to her album 1989. Her new album is a little too dark for me, but Taylor is a bright light in a dark world shedding light on darkness to drive it out into the light.
What is something that has been a struggle in your life?
I made my love for a man an idol and placed my life on hold hoping to marry him. His dream was to be a math teacher. So, I lived my life trying to help him achieve his dream by periodically working in the schools, gaining additional teaching licenses. I have six teaching licenses: Social Studies, Middle School Math, Physical Education, Health, Elementary Education and Special Education. My attempts did not strengthen our love. It just caused resentment. I learned you can't live for one person, or make one thing here in this world your everything. We are called to live for God foremost. So, God removed him from my life. So, I would have stronger faith in God through Jesus.
Do you believe that it’s beneficial for state legislators to have previous experience in government or politics?
It depends. Prior experience can lead to corruption when officials merely serve those who serve them instead of performing their job by serving the people. The focus must be serving the people, not merely those who serve us. We must work together and communicate, even when we respectfully disagree, but we should not use relationships to better our positions instead of those we are seeking to serve, the Delawareans.
What do you perceive to be your state’s greatest challenges over the next decade?
The negative consequences of deregulation and the defunding of the federal government that will impact Delawareans down the road is the greatest issue legislators must address, and not hide from. We need to prepare for what is ahead, a short fall of expected federal funds, which will lead to a short fall of state and local funds. Deregulation sounds great until you realize you must increase local taxes to pay for things or go without. The Federal government gives money to Delaware, in part, under its authority under Article I Section 8 of the Constitution, the Spending Clause. Delaware receives money with strings attached, called regulations. If Delaware doesn't adhere to the regulations, we do not receive money. As the federal government deregulates, it will continue to defund programs in Delaware. That means state and local governments must pay for more or go without. We must also prepare for the removal of environmental laws by the Federal Government to prevent harm by creating policies and local laws to protect, preserve and maintain our beautiful beach environment.
What do you believe is the ideal relationship between the governor and the state legislature?
They function as checks and balances upon each other to work together to serve the American people.
Do you believe it’s beneficial to build relationships with other legislators? Please explain your answer.
It depends. Prior experience can lead to corruption when officials merely serve those who serve them instead of performing their job by serving the people. The focus must be serving the people, not merely those who serve us. We must work together and communicate, even when we respectfully disagree, but we should not use relationships to better our positions instead of those we are seeking to serve, the Delawareans.
What process do you favor for redistricting?
No determination has been made at this time.
If you are not a current legislator, are there certain committees that you would want to be a part of?
No determination has been made at this time.
If you are a current legislator, what appealed to you about your current committees?
Not applicable.
If you are not currently a member of your party’s leadership in the legislature, would you be interested in joining the leadership? If so, in what role?
No determination has been made at this time.
Is there a particular legislator, past or present, whom you want to model yourself after?
President Obama. He reminds me of my father, Pat Kelly, in that he is brilliant, disciplined, respectful and a graceful speaker. Although, I did not agree with all of his choices, I respect him for having the courage to choose to support what he believed would protect and improve the lives of others. Thank you President Obama for being our greatest President. I am saddened by the great backlash of our nation after we elected our first black president. We had our first black president in 2008. In 2016, our country gave the popular vote to our first woman to win such. Sadly, the electoral college chose an unqualified man over a woman due to their prejudice. In 1870, black men gained the right to vote with the passage of the 15th Amendment. It was not until 50 years later, in 1920, that women gained the right to vote with the passage of the 19th Amendment. Must we wait 50 more years before men recognize woman as people, as leaders, and not as something to look at, use or do. Women are people not things. It is not a man's world. It is our world, both men and women's world to share. We respect and honor both men and women, not just men. Thank you President Obama for your platform of hope and life that reflects that hope. President Obama you reminded us prejudice is wrong. You give us courage and hope. Thank you.
Are you interested in running for a different political office (for example, the U.S. Congress or governor) in the future?
I am interested in running for federal congress. I have proposed ideas relating to federal laws, including but not limited to: saving the post office, to ensure additional funding on social security, so we can take care of our elderly instead of take advantage of them, to prevent oil drilling, and with regards to drafting laws to reduce the price of healthcare without reducing the quality or the amount of care. So far, the federal legislators have not addressed my suggestions. I will try to improve the laws in Delaware first. Maybe this position will give me a greater voice to share my ideas to federal legislators. So, maybe I will not be required to run. Nevertheless, I am not leaving it out. If no one will step up to help when they are able, and I am afforded the opportunity and the financial ability to do so, I will.
Both sitting legislators and candidates for office hear many personal stories from the residents of their district. Is there a story that you’ve heard that you found particularly touching, memorable, or impactful?
I am saddened by people I grew up with condemning blacks and the poor. The same people condemn people who do not give to charities, which is hypocritical. As a Christian, I believe we should give in secret pursuant to Matthew 6 instead of to be seen, for tax breaks and cheap marketing. Instead of giving money for something in return, we should do it out of love or it is not charity. Love is not self serving, pursuant to 1 Corinthians 13:4-7. I am saddened by people condemning, blaming and shaming the down trodden instead of lifting them up. The story in my community is the story I see by those I love and grew up with that choose to fear and hate, instead of respect or love. I choose to teach them hate is wrong.
Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.
Ballotpedia biographical submission form
The candidate completed Ballotpedia's biographical information submission form:
| “ | What is your political philosophy?
Serve People, not Greed. No one is above the law. No one is below the law.[2] |
” |
| —Meghan Kelly[1] | ||
See also
- State legislative elections, 2018
- Delaware House of Representatives elections, 2018
- Delaware House of Representatives
External links
Footnotes
