Governor Sherman W. Tribbitt
Sherman Tribbitt was first elected to the General Assembly in 1956 and for most of his State political career, held positions of leadership in the legislature, as Speaker of the House in 1959 and Lieutenant Governor (president pro tem of the Senate) in 1964. A Democrat, he experienced first-hand how quickly fortunes can change in Delaware politics. In 1968, he lost his bid for reelection and recalled the situation: "Where do you go after you've been defeated as Lieutenant Governor? Where do you go politically?...But to have [been] defeated for reelection in 1968 and four years later be elected governor, that's a big turnaround."

Another oddity of Delaware politics is the separate election of the top leaders in the State, a situation which has resulted in representatives from opposing parties governing together. Governor Tribbitt reflected

While the power of some Delaware Lieutenant Governors was limited in this situation, Tribbitt did not feel that way when he served with Governor Charles L. Terry. "In my case, Governor Terry assured me from the beginning that I'd have a part of everything." Tribbitt indicated that Delaware's unique election rules are a strength rather than a weakness: "My theory on that…is [that in] a democratic process, democratic form of government, anytime the people can decide anything, whatever it may be, for themselves, that is truly a democracy."

A book, Sherman W. Tribbitt, published by the Delaware Heritage Commission, is available.

 

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