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John Brady announced his decision to resign as Dewey Beach town solicitor as soon as possible in a Thursday, June 12 letter to Dewey’s mayor and town commissioners.
“Please let this letter serve as my request to step down as town solicitor at the earliest opportunity. I have thought long and hard about this decision, and do so in light of health considerations, staffing at my law office and my other obligations as a candidate for statewide office,” Brady wrote.
Mayor Dell Tush said she and Brady discussed his decision to resign before he sent the letter. “John has done a good job for our town, but given the current situation, I understand his decision,” said Tush.
“His campaign schedule is very full,” Tush said, adding that she and her husband, Larry, are strong supporters of Brady in his race for state insurance commissioner. “We have John’s campaign signs on both sides of both of our cars,” she said.
In addition to running for insurance commissioner, Brady is a partner in the law firm of Brady, Richardson, Beauregard & Chasanov LLC, town solicitor for the town of Milton, a deputy attorney general and legislative attorney for the Delaware House of Representatives Republican Caucus.
Brady previously discussed a possible resignation with Tush in February because of professional time constraints, but he reconsidered and, at the request of the mayor and others, agreed to stay on.
Brady said he is recommending attorney Glenn Mandalas of the Dover-based firm Prickett, Jones & Elliott for the position. He said he admires Mandalas’ knowledge of land-use issues. “With the upcoming rewrite of Chapter 185 of the town zoning code, and other zoning issues, it is my recommendation that he be employed as town solicitor,” Brady wrote.
Mandalas is also familiar with Dewey as the town council voted Nov. 10 to hire him to deal with issues related to the controversial Ruddertowne redevelopment project. Mandalas already serves as city solicitor for Rehoboth Beach.
“John Brady is a respectable guy who has a lot on his plate right now. We’re unhappy to see him leaving Dewey, but we understand,” said Mandalas.
“I’m delighted John has placed his confidence in our firm,” Mandalas said. He also said Dewey Beach officials have not contacted him and that it would be premature to discuss the possibility of being retained as town solicitor.
If the opportunity presents itself, Mandalas said, his firm would lease office space in Sussex County to comply with Dewey’s charter.
Tush said she is uncertain about how and when a new town attorney will be selected. “The town council will have to discuss and vote on the process,” she said.
Brady said recently that he intends to continue as town attorney in Milton.
His request to resign in Dewey has been posted on the June 13 town council meeting agenda for discussion and vote. He said he will do what he can to assist the town until it hires his replacement.
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