Mike Castle, Delaware's last Republican governor and congressman, dead at 86

Former Delaware Gov Mike Castle a Republican moderate who championed creating the popular State Quarters Undertaking of commemorative coins while he served in Congress has died He was The Delaware Republican Party informed that Castle died Thursday in Greenville but shared no other details DEMOCRATIC SENATOR ADDRESSES WHETHER KAMALA HARRIS HAS REACHED THE END OF HER POLITICAL CAREERCastle was among Delaware s the majority effective politicians never losing a race until his stunning upset in a primary for the U S Senate seat that Democrat Joe Biden held before becoming vice president During his years in Congress Castle became a leader of centrist Republicans earning a reputation as a fiscal conservative and social moderate not afraid to challenge the party line on issues ranging from cabinet spending to environmental protection and abortion As Delaware s lone representative in the U S House from to he supported a pay-as-you-go framework for both spending and tax cuts Castle played roles in improving child nutrition programs and establishing the No Child Left Behind teaching modification initiative His signature issue in Congress was the commemorative quarters initiative that featured coins honoring each state starting with Delaware He was dubbed by the coin grading institution Numismatic Guaranty Company as The Coinage Congressman The quarters boosted federal revenues as they were taken out of circulation He also helped establish a similar activity honoring U S presidents with dollar coins beginning in and an America the Beautiful quarter operation honoring national parks monuments and nature areas starting in The Honorable Michael Castle embodied the best of population arrangement moderation integrity and a steadfast commitment to all Delawareans Delaware GOP Chairman Gene Truono explained in a message Thursday Castle had been a state lawmaker and lieutenant governor before becoming governor in Delaware Gov Matt Meyer ordered flags flown at half-staff for the next week in Castle's honor During his time as governor Mike Castle visited every single school in our state including mine where he spoke to my high school class with the same warmth humility and commitment to general institution that defined his career mentioned Meyer a Democrat