Before the mud slinging.....here's what Ledogar isn't

The Republicans settled on a District 3 candidate for Sussex County Council in the Sept. 13 primary. They've now turned to face Democrat Leslie Ledogar. Before the noise level gets too high, I want to head off some misconceptions about Leslie Ledogar that you soon will hear time and time again from her opponents

• Leslie is not a tree-hugger. She is an environmental steward. She deeply values land stewardship, and believes that in order to reap the benefits of the land, we must learn to protect it. Whether making a living as a waterman, a farmer or a forester, good land stewardship is always a high priority. Although Ledogar also has a strong conservation ethic that involves buying and preserving those areas that are the most precious for the good of both humans and the natural environment, she appreciates and understands business interests, including the economic benefits of investment and growth.

In short, she has a balanced approach. She has a master's degree in forestry and worked for many years as an environmental lawyer. Part of that time was spent working for Fortune 100 companies. She understands that a business can both protect the environment and turn a profit.

• Leslie is not a politician. She is a public servant. She has never run for political office. She has no interest in a self-perpetuating political career. She does see Sussex County Council as a place where she can make a real difference right now. That is because the council will be developing a new comprehensive plan for 2018. This document will shape the future of Sussex County.

• Leslie is not anti-development. For example, following the recent recommendation by the Sussex County Planning and Zoning Commission to allow the building of the widely opposed Gills Neck Village Center, Leslie was among those who called not for a revolt but for a compromise: moving the center closer to the Governors subdivision and away from the adjacent wells that provide the only source of drinking water for Lewes. Leslie is a realist. As she told the Cape Gazette early in her campaign, once a project is underway, "it's really hard to pick up the concrete and make it go away."

• Leslie is not an ideologue. She shares the progressive values of the Democratic Party. But she is also a trained mediator. Leslie spent many years successfully working with all sides to resolve complex environmental issues and projects.

We need a representative on Sussex County Council who has the ability to clarify the issues and find solutions that serve us all: Leslie Ledogar.

Patricia (Pattie) Magee
Rehoboth Beach