Terry R. Spence

Terry R. Spence (born November 30, 1941) is an American politician from New Castle, Delaware. He is a member of the Republican Party, who served in the Delaware General Assembly and as Speaker of the Delaware House of Representatives.[1] He was defeated in the 2008 election by Democrat Michael A. Barbieri and lost an attempt to regain his seat in 2010. Though a social conservative, Spence's representation of his middle class and union voters in his district often put him at odds with other Republican Party leaders. He qualified and received votes for the Working Families Party in 2008 and 2010 in addition to the Republican Party.

Terry R. Spence
Speaker of the Delaware House of Representatives
In office
January 13, 1987 – January 13, 2009
Preceded byB. Bradford Barnes
Succeeded byRobert Gilligan
Member of the Delaware House of Representatives
from the 18th district
In office
January 11, 1983 – January 13, 2009
Preceded byRichard C. Cathcart
Succeeded byMichael A. Barbieri
Member of the Delaware House of Representatives
from the 20th district
In office
January 13, 1981 – January 11, 1983
Preceded byJohn P. Ferguson
Succeeded byRoger P. Roy
Personal details
Born (1941-11-30) November 30, 1941
Wilmington, Delaware, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
SpouseNancy
Children4
ResidenceNew Castle, Delaware
Alma materGoldey–Beacom College (AS)
Wilmington College (BS)

Early life and career

Spence was born in Wilmington, Delaware and grew up in New Castle. His father, Ernest Spence Jr., was a state trooper who had run for the 6th district seat on the New Castle County Council in 1972.[2]

Spence received an associate degree in business from Goldey–Beacom College and later a bachelor's degree from Wilmington College.[3] He served in the Delaware Air National Guard and later became a state trooper with the Delaware State Police like his father.

Political career

Upon the retirement of four-term Democratic state representative John P. Ferguson in 1980, Spence ran as a Republican for Ferguson's seat in the 20th representative district. Despite the district's Democratic leaning, the nationwide Republican tide led by presidential candidate Ronald Reagan helped propel Spence to a six-point victory over Democrat John Zimath. In 1982, redistricting caused by the United States Census changed his district number from 20 to 18. He was reelected to the House over Democrat Ronald Queen with 63 percent of the vote. He was unopposed in seven of his thirteen reelection campaigns and often won reelection with large margins.

In 2006, Spence faced a tough reelection due to the increasing percentage of Democrats in his district, with 49 percent of voters registered as Democrats and only 26% registered as Republicans, and with the unpopularity of Republican president George W. Bush. Spence was viewed as vulnerable by the Democratic Party of Delaware, who recruited Michael Barbieri to run against him. It was his closest race since he initially won election in 1980, but he still defeated Barbieri by over 12 points.[4] Barbieri challenged him again in the 2008 election. This time, owing to long coattails from the presidential race (with Senator Joe Biden as Barack Obama's running mate), Barbieri winning the election by six points.[5] Spence sought a rematch in 2010 and lost by 13 points.[6]

Speaker of the House

In 1987, the Republicans in the Delaware House elected B. Bradford Barnes from Bridgeville as Speaker of the House. However, Barnes died in office shortly thereafter, and Spence, who was elected in the same year as Barnes, was then chosen to succeed him as Speaker. He served as speaker until he lost his reelection in 2008, eventually becoming the longest serving Speaker of the House in the history of the Delaware General Assembly. He has also held the position of Speaker longer than any other Speaker of a state legislature in the history of the United States.

In 2006, Spence and Majority Leader Wayne Smith were opposed for their leadership positions in the Republican Caucus by Joseph W. Booth and Richard C. Cathcart, respectively. However, Republicans retained their majority in the Delaware House and lost only two seats in the 2006 elections that saw large Republican losses throughout the country. House Republicans voted to keep the leadership that had led them through the tumultuous election. After being reelected Speaker, Spence appointed Booth and Cathcartto the powerful appropriations and joint finance committees.

2000 gubernatorial race

In 1991 and 1995, Spence explored the possibility of running for governor, but in both cases decided not to challenge popular Democrat Tom Carper. In 2000, however, he decided to run and entered the Republican gubernatorial primary. Unfortunately, his past record of support for labor worked against him as the support of the party's hierarchy and the state's business leaders quickly coalesced around chairman of the state Chamber of Commerce and former state house majority leader John M. Burris. Due to an inability to raise campaign funds, Spence withdrew from the race before the September primary election in order to run for reelection to the House and endorsed Burris, the eventual Republican nominee who went on to lose the general election to then Lieutenant Governor Ruth Ann Minner.

Electoral history
Year Office Election Winner Party Votes % Opponent Party Votes % Source
1980 Delaware State Representative, District 20 General Terry R. Spence Republican 3,035 53.1% John H. Zimath Democratic 2,683 46.9% [7]
1982 Delaware State Representative, District 18 General Terry R. Spence Republican 2,485 62.5% Ronald E. Queen Democratic 1,488 37.5% [7]
1984 Delaware State Representative, District 18 General Terry R. Spence Republican 4,082 73.7% Samuel R. Richeon Democratic 1,453 26.3% [7]
1986 Delaware State Representative, District 18 General Terry R. Spence Republican 2,290 77.2% William H. Hartzel Democratic 676 22.8% [7]
1988 Delaware State Representative, District 18 General Terry R. Spence Republican 3,797 100% unopposed - - - [7]
1990 Delaware State Representative, District 18 General Terry R. Spence Republican 2,468 100% unopposed - - - [7]
1992 Delaware State Representative, District 18 General Terry R. Spence Republican 4,484 100% unopposed - - - [7]
1994 Delaware State Representative, District 18 General Terry R. Spence Republican 2,718 71.4% Susan N. Mangini Democratic 1,088 28.6% [7]
1996 Delaware State Representative, District 18 General Terry R. Spence Republican 4,551 100% unopposed - - - [7]
1998 Delaware State Representative, District 18 General Terry R. Spence Republican 2,245 100% unopposed - - - [7]
2000 Delaware State Representative, District 18 General Terry R. Spence Republican 3,931 58.2% Frances Anglin Democratic 2,823 41.8% [7]
2002 Delaware State Representative, District 18 General Terry R. Spence Republican 3,221 100% unopposed - - - [7]
2004 Delaware State Representative, District 18 General Terry R. Spence Republican 5,118 100% unopposed - - - [7]
2006 Delaware State Representative, District 18 General Terry R. Spence Republican 2,724 56.2 Michael A. Barbieri Democratic 2,083 43.8% [7]
2008 Delaware State Representative, District 18 General Michael A. Barbieri Democratic 4,164 52.0% Terry R. Spence Republican 3,760 46.9 [7]
2010 Delaware State Representative, District 18 General Michael A. Barbieri Democratic 3,115 53.0% Terry R. Spence Republican 2,766 47.0 [7]

Terms in public office
Office Type Location Election Year Term Start Term Ended
State House Legislature Dover 1980 January 13, 1981 January 11, 1983
State House Legislature Dover 1982 January 11, 1983 January 15, 1985
State House Legislature Dover 1984 January 15, 1985 January 13, 1987
State House Legislature Dover 1986 January 13, 1987 January 10, 1989
State House Legislature Dover 1988 January 10, 1989 January 8, 1991
State House Legislature Dover 1990 January 8, 1991 January 12, 1993
State House Legislature Dover 1992 January 12, 1993 January 10, 1995
State House Legislature Dover 1994 January 10, 1995 January 14, 1997
State House Legislature Dover 1996 January 14, 1997 January 12, 1999
State House Legislature Dover 1998 January 12, 1999 January 9, 2001
State House Legislature Dover 2000 January 9, 2001 January 14, 2003
State House Legislature Dover 2002 January 14, 2003 January 11, 2005
State House Legislature Dover 2004 January 11, 2005 January 9, 2007
State House Legislature Dover 2006 January 9, 2007 January 13, 2009

Personal life

Spence and his wife, Nancy, have four children—Terry, Greg, Mark, and Laura. His sons Greg and Mark also became Delaware State Troopers.

References
  1. "Former Representative Terry Spence (R)". Dover, Delaware: Delaware General Assembly. Retrieved January 20, 2019.
  2. "Our Campaigns - New Castle County Council 06 Race - Nov 07, 1972".
  3. "The Voter's Self Defense System".
  4. "State of Delaware General Election Official Results". Office of the State Election Commissioner. Department of Elections. November 7, 2006. Retrieved January 20, 2019.
  5. "State of Delaware General Election Official Results". Office of the State Election Commissioner. Department of Elections. November 4, 2008. Retrieved January 20, 2019.
  6. "State of Delaware General Election Official Results". Office of the State Election Commissioner. Department of Elections. November 2, 2010. Retrieved January 20, 2019.
  7. "Election Results Archive". Office of the State Election Commissioner. Department of Elections.
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