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The shock waves are reverberating from the sands of Rehoboth Beach to the cornfields of Laurel.
In an unanticipated move, Council President Finley Jones, Vice President Lynn Rogers and 20-year veteran Councilman Dale Dukes announced Tuesday, July 22, they would not seek re-election in November. With all Democrats stepping down, council could make a dramatic turn to Republican control. Democrats have been in the majority on the council since 1991.
It didn’t take long for contenders to get in on the action. As of Thursday, four candidates – three Republicans and one Democrat – had filed. The deadline is noon, Friday, July 25.
There will be Republican primaries for at least two of the vacated seats. Mark Baker of Lewes filed Wednesday, July 23, forcing a primary in District 3 with Judson Bennett of Lewes.
And in District 2, three candidates from Georgetown filed on the day of the announcement. Republicans Robert “Bob” Ricker and Sam Wilson Jr. will face off in a Sept. 9 primary with the winner going against Democrat Mike Wyatt. Ricker and Wyatt are former mayors of Georgetown.
As of Thursday, July 24, only Republican Mike Vincent of Seaford had filed for the open District 1 seat. Democrat Party leaders promised to have another Democrat file in the vacant District 1 seat left open by Dukes.
Still work to do
All three councilmen said they are stepping down for personal reasons relating at least in part to family issues.
Jones plans to live and work part of the year in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, with his wife, Michelle, whom he rarely sees. Rogers says he is committed to helping his wife recover from a nearly fatal horseback-riding accident.
Dukes, who is 68 years old, also says he wants to devote more time to his wife and spend more time with his grandchildren – and spend more time traveling and relaxing.
With their combined 44 years of experience, a void has been created in county government. It also leaves the two top council leadership spots open, presumably to be filled by the remaining sitting councilmen - Republicans George Cole and Vance Phillips.
But as Jones is quick to point out, the trio is not gone yet. “You aren’t rid of us yet. We still have five months,” he said.
“We will not back down from business,” Dukes added. The trio will remain in office until Dec. 31, 2008.
The council has an aggressive agenda that includes 23 new ordinances as part of the just-passed updated comprehensive land-use plan that must be acted on within the next 18 months. The first of those, an amended forested-buffer ordinance, is on the Tuesday, July 29 agenda. Next on the docket are open-space and superior-design ordinances.
The council has action pending on several controversial projects including two residential developments and a large commercial project on Gills Neck Road in Lewes and a large borrow pit project in Hardscrabble.
Candidates react
The first to react were those early filers who have been preparing to face the incumbents in their respective councilmanic districts.
Bennett, a Republican vying for the District 3 seat, said he was disappointed that Rogers is out of the race. “I was looking forward to another contest, but if I was in his situation, I would do exactly what he did,” Bennett said. “I thank him for his service to Sussex County and wish him well.”
Bennett lost to Rogers by three votes in 2004. He said the retirement of three incumbents with long tenures on council opens the door for others.
“This presents a tremendous opportunity for Sussex County to bring about change. If the Republican Party doesn’t self-destruct, we can get some things done,” he said. “I’m moving forward and won’t do anything different as if I was running against Lynn Rogers.”
Joan Deaver, a Democrat running for the District 3 seat, said the Democratic Party took a hit. “It was a shock and hopefully we won’t end up with an imbalance on the council,” she said.
“Hopefully this won’t hurt the party.”
She agreed with Bennett that it’s time for a change in Sussex County government. “The three seem to come from somewhere in the past and don’t seem to understand the concerns of the people – at least those who live on the east side of the county,” Deaver said.
“I represent change. I’m not for the old system – not for the way it was,” she added.
Vincent, a Seaford Republican in the District 1 race, had kind words for the retiring councilmen.
“They have served the county well and I thank Dale for his service – he has done a good job,” Vincent said. “I wish him well in his retirement.”
Vincent lost to Dukes by fewer than 300 votes in the 2004 election – a race he says he entered late. Vincent said he wouldn’t change a thing in his campaign. “I’m running for the seat and was not running against Dale Dukes,” he said.
“I want what is best for Sussex County and the residents of my district.”
He said although prospects look good for Republicans in the council races, the priority should not be partisan politics. “It’s not about what your party is - it’s about what is right for the county.”
Democrats circle wagons
Tom Chapman, chairman of the Sussex County Democrat Committee, said he was prepared for the news. “You have to respect what they want to do,” he said.
Chapman said it’s far from ideal to have three influential Democrats step down at the same time. “Especially when incumbents tend to rule the final outcome of the election 92 to 96 percent of the time,” he said. “There is a little left to chance with the open seats, but this is a Democratic year, and I think we can make the better argument for leadership.”
He said the openings offer newcomers the opportunity to get involved in county government. “We are losing experience, but it gives the chance for different perspectives.”
Chapman said the announcement would affect the direction of the county council campaign – at least from the Republican point of view.
“The arguments from the other side have been pointed directly at the incumbents, and now that will have to change,” Chapman said. “This has stolen a lot of the Republicans’ thunder. They can’t attack the incumbents any longer.”
He said the biggest shoes to fill are those of Dukes, who has been in office for two decades. “But there are always people waiting in the wings,” he said.
The timeframe of less than four days to come up with candidates in two races is not daunting, Chapman said.
“It’s traditional to wait to the last minute to file anyway,” he said.
Republicans get early start
Ron Sams, Sussex Republican regional chairman, said the party started quickly with early filings by Bennett and Vincent. “We were not anticipating all three would retire,” he said. “That definitely clears off the playing field.”
Sams said the party would prefer to get behind one candidate and forgo the work and cost of a primary, but when passionate people come forward with good ideas they are not turned away.
“We are going to learn a lot in this primary,” he added. He said the main issues would center on development.
The chairman, who has been spending a lot of time on the phone this week, said it seems likely Republicans could gain control of county council. But really, it’s more about the five members doing what is best for the county. It’s more constituent driven.
“They better pay attention to what people are saying,” he said. “Council members are elected by the people in their councilmanic districts and they have to represent those people.”
Race for County Council heats up
DISTRICT 1: Mike Vincent, R-Seaford
DISTRICT 2: Robert Ricker, R-Georgetown; Sam Wilson Jr., R-Georgetown; Mike Wyatt, D,-Georgetown
DISTRICT 3: Judson Bennett, R-Lewes; Mark Baker, R-Lewes; Joan Deaver, D-Lewes
Filing deadline: Noon, Friday, July 25
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