New Castle County Recorder Kozikowski offered $76,295 county job to potential primary challenger Tackett to keep him from filing

On June 24, 2026, New Castle County, Delaware Recorder of Deeds Mike Kozikowski, serving his sixth term, met County Councilman David Tackett for a 90-minute lunch at a restaurant near Newport -- secretly recorded by Tackett, who said he had been tipped off about what was coming. Over the course of the meeting, Kozikowski repeatedly offered to appoint Tackett to a newly created "constituent service outreach coordinator" position paying $76,295 a year for up to three days of office work a week, conditioning the offer on Tackett not filing to challenge him in the September 15 Democratic primary for recorder of deeds. "You haven't filed, so you're not really a candidate," Kozikowski told him, and described the arrangement as a "win-win." Tackett left the lunch, went directly to the county elections office, and filed his candidacy.

Delaware criminal law defines bribery as offering a public servant a personal benefit with the understanding that their vote, opinion, judgment, action, or will would thereby be influenced -- Tackett was a sitting County Councilman when the offer was made. State law separately bars County Council members from holding another county office or paid county position during their term, or for a year after leaving it; Kozikowski did not raise that restriction during the meeting, though he told Tackett he had already discussed the arrangement with County Executive Marcus Henry, who he said called it a "good olive branch."

Tackett filed a formal complaint with the Delaware Department of Justice's Division of Civil Rights and Public Trust, first by email on August 15, 2026 and then on the office's required form the following week, accusing Kozikowski of "attempted inducement of a prospective political candidate through repeated offers of public employment and compensation." He also notified the Delaware Department of Elections and the New Castle County Ethics Commission; fellow councilman Kevin Caneco separately asked the Ethics Commission to investigate. The Delaware DOJ confirmed it received a complaint but said it does not discuss, confirm, or deny investigations. Kozikowski said he saw nothing wrong with the offer because Tackett "had not yet officially filed" his candidacy, told Spotlight Delaware he "categorically denied any wrongdoing," declined further comment on the advice of counsel, said he has since filled the position with someone else, and said he would not withdraw from the primary.