“I don’t like the direction the town’s going. When we first came here, it was a friendly place, but now we’re involved with too many lawsuits,” said Newlands, who moved to Delaware from New Jersey three years ago.

Newlands, 57, a retired software engineer, filed a petition Monday, Nov. 9. He has criticized town officials for not being responsive to residents. He also said the town is mismanaged.

Newlands was appointed by Milton Mayor Don Post to the Wagamon’s West Shores Task Force, in the residential development in which he lives. He said since June 2008, he has been trying to get town officials to resolve an Americans with Disabilities Act compliance issue concerning the development’s sidewalks. “We’ve had five meetings with the town on this issue. They finally addressed it last month when they sent a town engineer. They still never told us what they’re going to do about it yet,” he said.

Newlands also said the town’s budget process should be more transparent, cohesive and simple. “I think the whole budget process needs to be revamped,” he said.

This year, the town has spent $34,000 on employee supplies, roughly $1,400 per employee, he said.

“When I’m at budget meetings, the council looks confused. There’s not enough time during the few hours they meet to review the budget. It’s too complicated,” he said.

Over the past year, Newlands said he has been trying to acquire information from town officials, but he said they have been condescending and aloof.

“The tone of responses at the workshops is very adversarial. The town acts like it’s none of our business. They don’t want you interfering,” he said. “They don’t want us asking any questions.”

Newlands said, as a former software engineer with 20 years’ experience, he is equipped to run Milton.

He said he has experience managing large groups and working with regulators, clients, auditors and vendors.

“What I’d like to do is have a more open government,” he said. Newlands also said he would schedule quarterly workshops for residents and listen to them on an ongoing basis.

In recent months, town officials have been posting more information online.

Still, Newlands remains frustrated with what he says is a lack of town effort.

“The town is not managed well. Good management really needs to go from the top down,” he said.

He also said economic development projects have not gotten off the ground as planned. “Nobody goes downtown. The businesses suffer with too many empty stores,” he said. “Lewes and Rehoboth – they’re always crowded, even in the off season,” he said.

Newlands said he would visit nearby towns to follow their models of economic development.

He also said he supports reasonable historic preservation. “If a building has not been occupied in 30 years, I don’t have a problem demolishing it, if a new building is restored in a similar fashion,” he said.

He said his support would likely come from Wagamon’s Wes Shores and Cannery Village. He also said he’s working with residents in older parts of town to get the vote out.

Newlands and his wife, Fran, have been married for nearly 30 years.

He and his wife volunteer for Habitat for Humanity’s ReStore. They’ve also contributed to the town’s horseshoe crab and 200th anniversary festivals.

He enjoys cooking, photography, fishing and helping his wife in the garden. He has no children but enjoys cats and recently has adopted a kitten.

Newlands said he is focusing on holding open houses and social gatherings to increase awareness and raise funds for his campaign.