I’M COLIN BONINI AND I’M READY TO MOVE DELAWARE FORWARD.

Throughout his years in the Delaware State Senate, Colin Bonini has continuously rejected the “go along to get along” political culture in Dover. Indeed, he’s refused to support a single bloated state budget during his tenure.

Colin’s energy, common sense conservatism and willingness to stand up against the big government politicians haven’t gone unnoticed.  Over the years he’s been honored by groups ranging from the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB Guardian of Small Business Award) and the Kent County Republican Party (Legislator of the Year) to the Food Bank of Delaware (Legislator of the Year for his work to help Delawareans fight hunger).

Beating the political odds is nothing new to Colin.  Becoming the youngest member of the Delaware Senate when he was elected in 1994 at the age of 24, Bonini was called “the longest shot in the State of Delaware.”

Senator Bonini has now represented the citizens of Southern Kent County for 21 years and has earned a reputation as a passionate and determined voice for limited government, fiscal responsibility and economic opportunity.

In the 148th General Assembly, Senator Bonini serves on five committees: Adult & Juvenile Corrections; Banking; Highways & Transportation; Bond; and Insurance.

In 2010 Senator Bonini received the Republican nomination for State Treasurer.  Despite no Republican challenger winning state-wide in heavily-democrat Delaware in 18 years, Colin received 49% of the vote, falling to win by fewer than a few thousand votes.  Colin received the highest percentage and highest vote total for a Republican challenger in Delaware in almost a quarter century. Impressive results especially considering the difficult context of the Republican “top of the ticket” in Delaware (Delaware was the only State which elected new Democrat US Senate and Democrat Congressional candidates in 2010).  Colin out-performed the Republican ticket dramatically and energized the electorate up and down Delaware with his dynamic grass-roots campaign.

Colin grew up in Stanford, California, the son of Dr. Charles P. Bonini, Professor of Decision Sciences, emeritus, and a former Dean at the Stanford Graduate School of Business, (The Economic/Scientific theory “The BoninI Paradox” is named after Dr. Bonini) and Dr. Cissie  Rafferty, a Professor of Renaissance History. The sixth of seven children, Colin is an identical twin.  His twin brother, Griffin (older by four minutes), is a Superior Court Judge in San Jose, California.

Colin came to Delaware to attend Wesley College. While there, Colin was a Dean’s List student, was elected President of his Senior Class and lettered in three varsity sports (football, basketball and tennis). Colin also worked for U.S. Senator Bill Roth and spent three months working for the State Department at the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi, India. He graduated from Wesley in three years with a Bachelors of Arts degree. Colin works as the Director of Marketing, Mid-Atlantic Region, for The Bond Agency in Dover and is the owner and principal of Alliance Associates LLC, a venture capital and frontline customer service firm.

Colin met the love of his life, Dr. Melissa A. Harrington, on an airplane in 1997. Dr. Harrington received her PhD in Neuroscience from Stanford University and is a full professor of Biology Delaware State University. She is also Director of The Delaware Center for Neuroscience Research that includes faculty at both Delaware State University and the University of Delaware. Colin and Melissa were married in 2001, and reside on their ten-acre horse farm, “Black Dog Farm”, with their two dogs: Sierra and Cleo, and two cats: Boo-Boo and Lucky, just north of Magnolia.