Carpers Corner

Carpers Corner

Twenty-four days before Christmas, on the first Friday of December, I joined members of my staff and their guests at the Buena Vista conference center, located just south of the Town of New Castle, for our annual holiday reception (an event not paid for with taxpayer dollars). Unlike many traditional office gatherings, I also invited former staff members - regardless of whether they were part of my team during my time in the U.S. House of Representatives, as governor, as state treasurer, or in the U.S. Senate.

The Buena Vista is a beautiful estate that was originally built by John Clayton over 150 years ago. As many Delaware history buffs can tell you, Clayton was the only Delawarean ever to serve as U.S. Secretary of State. In 1914, the home was acquired by Coleman DuPont, who then passed it along to his daughter Alice. Seven years later, Alice DuPont married Clayton D. Buck, who would go on to become governor of Delaware. In 1965, the Buck family, in a remarkable act of generosity, sold Buena Vista to the State of Delaware for one dollar, apparently in the hope that the estate would be used in the future as the governor's mansion in a state that had none at the time. Downstate legislators, alarmed at the prospect of future governors residing in northern Delaware, and fearful that the influence of the state's two southern counties might well be diminished if that happened, turned around and soon acquired a somewhat smaller home on King's Highway in Dover. That home, now known as Woodburn, has served as the residence of Delaware's governors for four decades.

Meanwhile, the Buena Vista, with its nearly 210 acres, has been transformed into a meeting and conference center that's heavily used throughout the year, all the while retaining much of its original charm and beauty. Having attended scores of meetings, retreats, lunches, dinners and receptions there over the last 30 years at this historic home, I'd have to say that the people of Delaware came out ahead in the deal.

The tradition, history and beauty of Buena Vista provided an ideal backdrop to celebrate the holidays again this year. More than 100 current and former members of one of my several staffs, and their guests, joined us at our reception there earlier this month. Their presence served as a reminder that the "Carper family" is more than just a collection of talented individuals. It is an ever-growing group of dedicated and hard-working people who care deeply about serving the people of Delaware and our nation and about enabling me to be the kind of servant that Delawareans deserve.

Speaking of service, my parents instilled in my sister and me the belief that service to others is both an obligation and a privilege. Since my earliest days as a naval flight officer, I have taken that idea to heart and have always tried to surround myself with people who share that belief, as well. As Governor of Delaware, I sought to build an administration on the core values that have guided me through much of my adult life -- to do what's right, to treat our constituents and others the way that we want to be treated, to be committed to excellence in all that we do, and, when convinced that we're right, to refuse to give up.

The shared commitment to those values has served to create an uncommonly strong bond among many of us who have worked closed together, a bond that endures to this day. After spending a couple of hours welcoming the members of my teams past and present to our holiday reception at the Buena Vista, we gathered in the library there to watch a video presentation of scores of photographs - some pretty humorous -- spanning my career in public service. As I watched the presentation, I was taken back to my time in the Navy and to my first days as state treasurer. I thought to myself how blessed I have been to be allowed to serve the people of Delaware even when we were saddled with the worst credit rating of any state in America as we were during my first year as treasurer. Two photographs in the video especially stood out from the rest. The first was of my wife Martha, and our two sons, Chris and Ben, and me during my first inauguration as governor. The second photograph showed the four of us together just a few months ago when we were visiting our oldest son - now all grown up - on the campus of the college where he is a freshman engineering student. The three of them remain the most important people in my life, and I am grateful for their love and support and for their willingness to share me with our special guests at the Buena Vista and with the people of Delaware for all of these years.

As the 109th Congress comes to a close, I look forward to spending time later this month with my family in Delaware. I hope that wherever you are your holidays are filled with the same love and laughter that only good friends and family can provide. Here's wishing you and your family both joy and peace during this holiday season and many blessings in the new year to come.

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