Bob Frederick to run for Senate
Former Dewey Beach Mayor Bob Frederick is looking to win the Democratic Party nomination for Sussex County’s new Senate seat. Senate District 6 will encompass Dewey Beach, Rehoboth Beach, Lewes and Milton.
“I think we have a great opportunity to make the 6th seat the most dynamic in the state,” Frederick said. “There’s continuity among the communities.”
The economy of each community in the 6th District is largely centered on tourism, which equates to jobs, Frederick said. He also said his campaign will focus on services and education.
Frederick served as a publicly elected official in Dewey Beach for 10 years; he was mayor for eight years and police commissioner for 2 years. During his time as mayor, other mayors in the county elected Frederick president of the Sussex County Association of Towns.
When electoral lines were redrawn in 2002, the Republican-controlled House took Dewey Beach out of the 14th Representative District. At the time, Frederick, a Democrat, had prepared to run for office against Mike Meoli, a Republican. “They drew the line right around my house so I could not run,” Frederick said.
House Majority Leader Pete Schwartzkopf ran as the Democrat in the race and won. When Schwartzkopf, D-Rehoboth Beach, led redistricting after the 2010 U.S. Census, he brought Dewey Beach back into his 14th District. Based on population changes, the 6th District Senate seat moved from New Castle County into Sussex County.
“I truly believe things work out for a reason,” Frederick said. “I’m just excited about the opportunity to serve again.”
Since Frederick left his mayoral post in 2002, he said he has been heavily involved with Dewey Beach Lions Club and the Beebe Medical Center 2005 Vision Campaign. “I’ve really dedicated myself to community service,” Frederick said.
Frederick has also been instrumental in the Fort Miles Historical Association, which he co-founded 10 years ago to restore World War II Artillery Fire Control Tower 3, at Delaware Seashore State Park, south of Dewey Beach. He said a 16-inch gun barrel from the USS Missouri is set to arrive at Fort Miles Historic Site at Cape Henlopen State Park in April.
Frederick lives with his wife of 20 years in Rehoboth Beach, just outside of municipal Dewey Beach. He works as a group health insurance specialist at Atlantic/Smith, Cropper and Deeley in Lewes.
Frederick’s campaign committee is made up of residents of the new Senate district. Dewey Beach resident Zack King, who owns Port restaurant on Route 1, is chairman of Frederick’s campaign. Kenny Vincent, Gene Boteler, Melissa Clink and Frederick’s daughter, Jill Frederick, will also assist the candidate in his bid for the Democratic nomination.
Frederick said he plans to officially file for office in April. He would face Rehoboth Beach Realtor Andy Staton in a Tuesday, Sept. 11 primary election. The winner of the Democratic nomination will face a Republican candidate in the Tuesday, Nov. 6 general election. Republicans Glen Urquhart and Ernesto Lopez are both campaigning for the Republican nomination.
