DOVER, Del. — In an exclusive interview with CoastTV News, Delaware State Representative Madinah Wilson-Anton broke ranks with fellow Democrats, making sweeping allegations about party leadership’s handling of Rep. Stell Parker Selby's prolonged absence.
Wilson-Anton says after Rep. Stell Parker Selby's absence was questioned publicly in March, lawmakers discussed strategies to cover up Parker Selby’s status—going so far as suggesting parking in Parker Selby's designated parking space to mask her disappearance.
"A [legislative] member came up to me and some other members and said, 'Be careful, they're out here recording.' 'Terrible people are out here recording [Stell Parker Selby's] empty seat'," Wilson-Anton says she was told, referring to CoastTV's coverage. "And in that conversation, it was suggested that we as members think about rotating cars and parking in her in her parking spot. I was so taken aback."
Questions remain after more politicians say Parker Selby is out due to stroke
CoastTV was first to break the news that Stell Parker Selby's absence was due to a major stroke this past winter. Parker Selby was sworn-in at home in March. To this day, no video of Rep. Parker Selby has been released, nor has she been seen publicly at Legislative Hall. The Top House Democrat, Speaker Melissa Minor-Brown also refuses to answer CoastTV's questions about Rep. Parker Selby's cognitive ability post stroke.
Rep. Stell Parker Selby at her private swearing in ceremony in her home on Monday, March 24.
Lawmaker claims Democrats are okay with Parker Selby's seat staying absent her entire term
Despite concerns raised for months by the public and Republicans, Wilson-Anton is the first Democrat to publicly call for Parker Selby's removal or resignation. She's also calling for accountability from leadership.
When asked directly who benefits from Stell Parker Selby's seat staying absent, Wilson-Anton didn’t mince words. “I think leadership benefits from this. And I think there are people in my party who think this is best because they want the seat to stay Democrat, which I think is disgusting.”
Madinah Wilson-Anton tells CoastTV it's time for Stell Parker Selby to resign or be removed. She is the first democrat to do that.
She claims party insiders have acknowledged fears that the seat could flip Republican if a special election is held now—prompting an effort to delay any action until a more viable Democratic candidate can be positioned. Republican Nikki Miller only lost to Stell Parker Selby by 245 votes in November.
Wilson-Anton: Speaker's virtual voting plan "A bold-faced lie."
The controversy intensified last week after CoastTV News questioned House Speaker Melissa Minor-Brown in the hallways of Legislative Hall. The Speaker floated a plan for virtual voting as a potential solution. “We're going to focus on getting virtual voting passed through our rules. And then that way we can most likely see Rep Parker Selby," Speaker Minor-Brown told CoastTV.
But Wilson-Anton dismissed the plan as a delay tactic, saying virtual voting was dismissed months earlier.
"Virtual voting was brought forward because you were asking questions and they weren't getting answered," she said.
House Speaker Melissa Minor Brown refused to answer our questions about Stell Parker Selby, aside from saying that she is "healing."
When asked if she believed the Speaker made the claim to get the media to “go away,” Wilson-Anton replied, “Absolutely...I think it’s a lie."
Concerns for Stell Parker Selby and staffers
Rep. Wilson-Anton says she was motivated to speak out because she feels staffers have been put in a position they shouldn't be in due to the Democratic Leadership's inaction. What's more, she believes Rep. Stell Parker Selby isn't well enough to vote, or possibly be aware of what is going on.
"I think to go six months without hearing from someone, there's kind of an implicit answer there, which is she's not [aware] because we know her to be a woman of integrity, a woman who cares about her community," Wilson-Anton said. "If she could vote, she would be doing whatever she could to make sure she was doing that or at least communicating to us."
In January, Rep. Parker Selby sent in a letter saying she would not be present for the month following a medical event.
CoastTV News reached out to Speaker Minor-Brown’s media team for a response to Wilson-Anton’s interview but has not received a reply.