Lewes Republican announces run for state party

Women and Hispanic voters nationwide were key to re-electing President Barack Obama.  In Sussex County, a Hispanic woman is rallying Republican voters.

Nelly Aliste Jordan, Republican chairwoman of the 20th Representative District, announced Feb. 14, she will run for vice chairwoman of the state Republican Party.

The seat is currently held by Sen. Greg Lavelle, R-Sharpley, who Jordan said, will not run for re-election this year.

Jordan said her biggest asset is her ability to relate to minorities in Delaware.  “I have worked with the African-American community, the Hispanic community,” she said.

Jordan was born in Talca, Chile. She moved to the United States in 1970.  “I came to finish my studies,” she said.

Jordan studied business administration at Strayer College, now Strayer University, in Washington, D.C.  After graduating, Jordan owned a print shop with her husband, worked as a Realtor and held a job as a mortgage loan officer.

Jordan spent a number of years working as a housing counselor for District of Columbia Housing Finance Agency.  She said she served as a liaison between the Hispanic community and the mayor of Washington, D.C.

Jordan retired late in 2005, and she has lived in Lewes full-time since 2006.  Despite the move, she is still vice president of D.C. Metropolitan Association of Housing Counselors, and she does pro bono counseling.

After moving to the Cape Region, Jordan joined the state Republican Party and the Republican Women’s Club.  She was elected chairwoman of the 36th Representative District in June 2011.

After redistricting, Jordan was elected to serve as chairwoman of the new 20th Representative District, which encompasses Lewes and Milton.

She and her husband, Tom Jordan, helped campaign for former state trooper, now Rep. Steve Smyk, R-Milton, who won the seat, Nov. 6.

During the campaign, Jordan said going door-to-door was far more effective than mailers, emails or phone calls.  “We learned that we do have to be in touch with the people,” she said.

If elected to serve on the state committee, Jordan said she would travel the state, applying the same principle of talking with people face-to-face.

The 70-year-old said she feels the same as she did at 18.  “I have a lot of energy,” Jordan said.

The election of party officials will be held at the state Republican Convention, Saturday, April 27, at the Doubletree Hotel in Wilmington.

Jordan is so far the only candidate to announce a run for vice chair.