State Treasurer-elect Colleen Davis caught driving on suspended license

Scott Goss | The News Journal

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State Treasurer-elect Colleen Davis could have a hard time commuting to her new job after being cited this week for driving on a suspended license and three other traffic-related offenses.

The 38-year-old Dagsboro resident has a history of driving infractions. She was stopped by Delaware State Police about 7 p.m. on Tuesday after a state trooper clocked her doing 72 in a 55 mph zone near the intersection of U.S. 113 and Gov. Stockley Road, just south of Georgetown, court records show.

During the traffic stop, the trooper discovered the newly elected Democrat's driver's license had been yanked for a previous infraction not listed in court records.

Despite the suspension, the health care consultant still handed the trooper her suspended license, a misdemeanor in itself, court records show. Davis also failed to produce proof that her husband's 2015 Honda Odyssey was insured or even registered, according to court records.

If found guilty, Davis could have her license suspended for several more months and face some hefty fines. She also could face jail time, although that sentence is unlikely.

Her first court hearing is scheduled for Dec. 4 – less than 30 days before she will be sworn in to her $116,582-a-year position.

Davis on Friday said her license was suspended for an unpaid speeding ticket just days before the election but denied having driven herself to campaign events once she was barred from being behind the wheel.

"I got a speeding ticket and requested the court date be moved until after the election but got a date just a few days before it," she said. "In the midst of working full time and running a campaign, I missed the court date."

Yet this is at least the fourth time Davis has gotten in trouble for driving on a suspended license or failing to provide proper documentation during a traffic stop, according to court records.

She first was charged with the misdemeanor offense in 1997 after being stopped for blowing through a stop sign, court records show.

In both 2011 and 2003, she initially was charged with driving a suspended license but later accepted a lesser charge of failing to reinstate her license.

Those incidents all are listed under Davis's maiden name Carroll. She has no court record under her married name.

When asked why her license has been suspended repeatedly over the years, Davis said simply, "I would like to end this conversation now," and hung up.

A photo posted on the Facebook page for U.S. Sen. Tom Carper's campaign on Nov. 5 –one day before the general election – appears to contradict Davis's assertion that she never drove to campaign events after her license was suspended.

The photo shows Davis and Carper standing next to their respective minivans in Wilmington with the following caption: "There’s something special about silver minivans in the First State. My minivan—with 492,000 miles on the odometer—takes me up and down the state every day to meet with Delawareans. Over the course of her campaign, Colleen Davis has added thousands of miles to her minivan. Tomorrow, let’s elect Colleen to be our State Treasurer so she can add a few hundred thousand more."

A Carper campaign staffer confirmed Friday that the photo was taken on Nov. 5 but said they were unaware whether Davis drove herself to the photo shoot.

Davis did not immediately respond to messages seeking further comment.

Court records do not indicate what led to Davis's license being suspended four times over 20 years.

Driver's licenses can be pulled by the courts for serious offenses such as driving under the influence or mundane issues such as failing to pay court fees. The Division of Motor Vehicles also can suspend someone's license for failing to pay speeding tickets and similar reasons.

A DMV spokeswoman said state law prevents her agency from releasing any details about why a license was administratively suspended.

The most recent instance of Davis having her license come at an awkward time for the the Sussex County resident. Days before her traffic stop, the political newcomer managed to knock off incumbent Republican state Treasurer Ken Simpler, who was widely considered to be a future candidate for governor.

Largely unknown before declaring her candidacy in late June, Davis received financial backing from the state party and endorsements from several unions before riding a wave that saw Democratic women take the last two statewide offices held by Republicans and flip two seats in the Delaware General Assembly.

Jesse Chadderdon, executive director of the Delaware Democratic Party, said he was unaware Davis's license had been suspended.

"I'm not in a position to comment on a legal matter I've only just been informed of," he said.

The state treasurer is the chief financial officer of Delaware state government and responsible for managing its investment portfolio, along with providing banking and accounting services.

Contact reporter Scott Goss at (302) 324-2281, sgoss@delawareonline.com or on Twitter @ScottGossDel.

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