24th Rep District May Be Competitive if Democrats Follow Up on 2008 Progress

I realize some of the margin of closeness in this race may have been the "Blue Tsunami" in 2008. However, if the Democrats let Republican Bill Oberle, who has served since 1976, go back to running unopposed he is young enough he could be in Dover another 20 years. While I am not commenting on which candidate would make a better legislator from the 2008 contest, I do question whether it is good for democracy (with a little "d") for anyone to run unopposed for ten consecutive election cycles.
_______________________________________________________________________

2008 Bill Oberle ( R) 3941 & (WFP) 116 for a total of 4057 (54%.0) to
Daniel Basara (D ) 3455 (46.0%)
Unopposed in:
2006
2004
2002
2000
1998
1996
1994
1992
1990
1988
1986 Bill Oberle (R) 2,681 to Stan Glowiak ( D) 846
1984 Bill Oberle (R ) 5,040 to Francis Millman ( D) 1,039
1982 Bill Oberle ( R) 3,277 to Florence Irwin (D ) 1,016
1980 Bill Oberle (R ) 5,223 Stowell Kessler (D ) 1,249
1978 Bill Oberle (R ) 3,285 Bernice Holm (D ) 871
1976 Bill Oberle (R ) 3,358 Richard Legates (D ) 3,334

http://elections.delaware.gov/information/electionresults/election_archive.shtml