Statement from Chairman Erik Raser-Schramm on the retirement announcement of Rep. Helene Keeley

When Rep. Keeley retires at the end of her term, the General Assembly and City of Wilmington will lose one of its fiercest advocates for change. 

For more than two decades, Helene has fought on the frontlines to reform our criminal justice system while improving public health. She was the author of the Medical Marijuana Act and has led the fight to deregulate and potentially legalize it, in large part due to the racial disparities in how marijuana crimes are prosecuted. She also helped strengthen Delaware’s DUI laws and helped create a safe needle exchange program in the City of Wilmington.

A champion for Delaware’s working poor, Helene has assisted homeowners by creating a statewide foreclosure mediation program, and is currently pursuing legislation regulating predatory payday loan providers.

A devoted Democrat and member of the Delaware Democratic Party Executive Committee as Party Treasurer, Helene will be sorely missed.