I am blessed to be your Third District Sussex County councilman and work for you to deliver change and solutions. The fact is that I have voted no on over two dozen projects, and those I couldn’t get denied, I required the developer to change their plans to save old-growth trees and increase open space. I have helped preserve almost 2,000 acres from ever being developed.
I disagree with my opponent when she suggests that Sussex County is not a wonderful place to live. Our county is wonderful, vibrant and diverse. I’ve lived here my entire life. My children, grandchildren, father and brothers’ families all live here.
I support our cities and towns with any needs they have. Six letters of endorsement from the Third District mayors were in the Cape Gazette supporting me. My 40-plus-year record of community service includes supporting small business, the arts, faith-based organizations, the LGBTQ community and our veterans.
Vicious attacks from my opponent and her supporters in letters to the editor over the past few weeks made false representations of my record. I ask you to review the county website to read the truth about my anti-development voting record. She has not offered one solution to solve any issue, but instead focuses on slander and lies about me. My record validates my many accomplishments, and her criticism that I don’t support building schools and roads is untrue. She is new to this area and has no understanding that building schools and roads are 100% the responsibility of our state senator and representative. Sussex, New Castle and Kent have no input or responsibility to build roads or schools. DelDOT requires developers to pay millions of dollars in impact fees to construct roads prior to issuance of construction permits, which is sent to Dover and spent in areas that the state and DelDOT choose – 90% of the time it is spent in the northern two counties. Roads and other infrastructure need to be installed before development occurs, not after, and I will continue to foster a relationship with DelDOT to accomplish this.
My opponent’s school building solution is to tax middle- and lower-income homebuyers, and she doesn’t understand that taxpayers pay millions of dollars in school taxes. The state uses it in areas the Department of Education chooses – usually those dollars aren’t spent in Sussex County. Sussex County school tax money needs to stay here for schools, hiring of much-needed teachers. Our state senator and representative need to see that this happens.
I am thankful for the public and private support I have received from Democrats, Republicans and Independents. They are blue and white collar, restaurateurs, store owners, farmers, plumbers, electricians, builders, lawyers, nurses and doctors, and of all races, religions and lifestyles. I will always fight for their rights.
I am always available to you. My cellphone is 302-423-4801. I ask for your support and your vote.
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