Delaware Senate confirms multiple gubernatorial nominees, including enhanced 9-1-1 chair

The Delaware State Senate confirmed seven gubernatorial nominees during its March 19, 2025 session, by recorded roll calls that showed 19 senators voting yes and two absent for each confirmation.

The confirmations included Joshua A. Bushweller as chair of the enhanced 9-1-1 emergency reporting system; Jeffrey A. Reeves as a trustee of the Board of Pension Trustees; William R. Schultz and Lauren M. DeSabatino as members of the Delaware Interscholastic Athletic Association; Renee L. Bennett as reappointed alderman of the City of Rehoboth Beach; and Gary W. Ferguson and Thomas A. Sweeney as members of the Diamond State Hospital Cost Review Board. Each nomination was presented by the assistant secretary and then considered by the full Senate with roll-call verification.

The confirmations were presented to the Senate with standard nomination language from the governor's office stating the appointments were submitted "in conformity with the constitution and the laws of the State of Delaware." Where the nomination letters specified term lengths, those terms were recorded during the reading: Jeffrey A. Reeves' appointment was noted as a four-year term from the date of confirmation; William R. Schultz's appointment as a two-year term; Lauren M. DeSabatino's appointment as a three-year term; Gary W. Ferguson's appointment as a three-year term; and Thomas A. Sweeney's appointment as a four-year term. Renee L. Bennett's reappointment was read as a two-year term, not to commence prior to March 29, 2025.

All seven nominees received the required majority on roll call. The assistant secretary read each nomination letter into the record, and after each roll call the secretary announced the result ("19 yes and 2 absent") and declared the appointment confirmed. The transcript records no recorded no votes or abstentions for these confirmations.

Senators made brief remarks of congratulation after several confirmations; Senator Townsend offered brief remarks about one nominee's prior work history during consideration of a later board appointment. The session then moved on to other agenda items and was recessed for the next legislative meeting.

The confirmations fill multiple advisory and oversight seats across state government, including public safety (enhanced 9-1-1), education (interscholastic athletics), pensions and hospital cost review.