New century, new economy. Gov. Ruth Ann Minner has turned to members of the state's legal community to advise her on how to keep the good times going, appointing them to her new Strategic Economic Council along with government officials, business and labor leaders and academics. Minner's choice for chairman is Stacey J. Mobley. As the DuPont Co.'s senior vice president, chief administrative officer and general counsel, Mobley embodies two of Delaware's economic legs chemicals and corporate law. The Democratic governor's appointments were no accident.
Lawyers are there because the legal community is integrally tied to a lot of our economic sectors.
The council, created by executive order, is charged with recommending ways to attract quality economic growth and to retain and strengthen existing businesses. Later this month it expects to hold an organizational meeting that will be open to the public, as will all its sessions, although the date hasn't been set yet. Mobley has high hopes for the council, drawing as it does on a diverse membership. In addition to the lawyers, the group includes Democratic Lt. Gov. John C. Carney Jr. and Treasurer Jack A. Markell, along with state Republican Rep. Wayne A. Smith, Cabinet officers, university officials, chamber of commerce members, a union leader, farm agent and specialists in finance, biotechnology and information technology. Noticeably absent from the council is anyone from MBNA America, one of the state's biggest employers but also one of the biggest backers of John M. Burris, the Republican gubernatorial candidate who ran against Minner.