Meet A Local Democrat: Mary Boggi
by Carole Jesiolowski
Mary Boggi grew up in Stratford, NJ, surrounded not by political activists and aspirations, but in a middle-class family learning how to make her way as the youngest of five children…skills that would serve her well in later years. It wasn’t until Hillary Clinton decided to run for the Democratic Party’s presidential nomination in 2008 that Mary took note. Registered as an independent, she recognized the importance of voting for a woman, this woman, and became a Democrat. Clinton ultimately lost the nomination to Senator Barack Obama.
In 2016, when Hillary Clinton became the presidential Democratic nominee, Mary worked hard for the campaign, even standing on corners in Newark waving as cars drove by. After Clinton lost to Donald Trump, Mary became energized in a different way. “I felt like I needed to be involved, to do something,” she says, so she joined RD 24, and never looked back.
RD 24 was a small group, about eight people at each meeting. But they were fierce and completely committed to Democratic Party goals. It was here that Mary learned the value of grassroots campaigning while working on the campaign of State Representative Ed Osienski. “Ed knocked on almost every door in the RD. He developed a relationship with constituents and knew what was going on everywhere in the district.”
Mary and her wife Deb relocated to Rehoboth in 2020 and joined RD 14 right before the election. She worked at a voting site greeting people alongside Senator Chris Coons and Governor John Carney. “We did not see anything like this in Newark,” she says, and realized the importance of Coons’ and Carney’s personal connections with constituents.
Mary has served on the RD 14 Fundraising Committee since helping launch the inaugural Blue Gala in 2021, which raised $13,000. As chair of the 2025 Gala, she led the event to a five-fold increase in funds raised.
Elected chair of RD 14 in 2025, Mary brings her passion for grassroots campaigning, local involvement, and intense organizing skills to the job. “I have high hopes for the RD. We are doing different things to involve people and get the message out about our work to elect Democrats. Cruising with the Candidates and the launch of our newsletter are just two examples.” The RD is placing a focus on growing the party with a more diverse voting population, using social media and digital ads. “We have to find the next generation who will be as involved and passionate as we are.”
Balancing her position as chair of what is believed to be the largest and most successful RD in Delaware with her full-time job as supply chain director at Airgas Inc., the nation’s largest supplier of bulk gases and safety infrastructure to industries ranging from healthcare and food production to construction and manufacturing, along with her role as campaign manager for Jill Hick’s 2026 campaign for Sussex County Council, is no small feat. Success requires organizational skills and operational knowledge. Mary knows how to keep people on track and how to stay calm in a crisis. She also surrounds herself with a strong team to get the job done, and acknowledges the RD 14 board and members who are as passionate as she is.
Every Saturday morning, Mary hits the trails for a hike, often with her dogs Willow and Sicily, both rescue dogs. Her favorite time on the beaches is winter when it is clear and quiet, and she can indulge in her love of hunting for sea glass. A supporter of the area’s music scene, she often can be found listening to live music from local bands. The duo Bettenroo always plays her favorite Jim Croce song, “I Have a Name.”
“I Have a Name” is an anthem of personal identity, quiet dignity, and unyielding perseverance, characteristics of Mary Boggi as she works to help elect Democrats to local, state, and national offices. “Grassroots matters more than anything,” she says. “Everyone has a story and wants to be heard and have a connection.”
Carole Jesiolowski is the editor of The Voice. Prior to her move to Lewes, she was president of Social Business LLC and senior vice president and managing editor at Data Key Communications Inc., both in Syracuse, NY.