DOVER – Dover businessman and social activist La Mar Gunn announced Thursday he will seek the Republican nomination for the office of lieutenant governor.
He made the announcement early Thursday afternoon in a news release.
Mr. Gunn, a financial adviser who opened Gunn Wealth Management on State Street, is the only Republican who has announced interest in the office.
Candidates have until July 12 to file for the Sept. 13 primary.
Six Democrats are competing for the lieutenant governor ’s seat. They are Rehoboth Beach Commissioner Kathy McGuiness, New Castle Register of Wills Ciro Poppiti of Wilmington, Middletown state Sen. Bethany Hall-Long, former Sussex Register of Wills Greg Fuller of Lincoln, Kent County Levy Court Commissioner Brad Eaby of Dover and Wilmington Councilwoman Sherry Dorsey Walker.
While the presidential primary is Tuesday, the primary for other offices in Delaware is Sept. 13. Only registered voters from participating parties may vote.
Mr. Gunn is president of the Central Delaware branch of the NAACP, a graduate of William Penn High School in New Castle and the University of Delaware. He was the first in his family to graduate from college, he said in an earlier interview with the Delaware State News.
A relative newcomer to Delaware’s political scene, Mr. Gunn ran for Kent County Recorder of Deeds in 2014 against incumbent Democrat Betty Lou McKenna. Mr. Gunn went from being declared the winner by two votes on election night to losing the office on a recount.
On Nov. 4, 2014, the Department of Elections declared Mr. Gunn a winner over Ms. McKenna by a 19,247 to 19,245 margin. The closeness of the votes triggered an automatic recount by the Board of Canvass, and after a series of recounts, ended in a tie.
That paved the way for Democrat Gov. Jack Markell to appoint Ms. McKenna to the office.