Elder announces re-election bid in Lewes

Joe Elder stood in front of Lewes City Hall next to his beloved 1941 pickup truck.

The incumbent councilman pieced together the vehicle that he calls a rat-rod, a combination of parts – the cab is a Dodge, the engine and chassis are Chevy, and the bed is homemade.

Elder welded and hammered until all of the pieces became something he could drive.

That’s the same approach Elder said he’s been taking in his first term: piecing together a resume of helping people and getting things done.  

Elder, 70, has filed for re-election, hoping to keep the momentum going.

“I consider myself a leader of leaders. I come to meetings prepared; I read and I research,” he said March 10. “My biggest accomplishment is learning how city hall works. I have good relationships with city staff. I know a lot of people in the community. I’ve helped a lot of people. I can’t tell you the number of projects where I’ve been an advocate for people that don’t hit the newspaper.”

Elder is a retired teacher and school principal who has had a home in Lewes for 35 years. He also taught leadership skills at Alvernia University in Pennsylvania.

He said one of the challenges in a second term would be to ensure that council passes the right ordinances.

“I’ve been very concerned about the last few ordinances that have been put out, the conflict that’s been caused, needlessly, in my opinion,” Elder said, while also saying that he’s welcome to fight over issues in the middle of a meeting. “I’ve been outspoken at meetings, and I have to be. There are ordinances that haven’t really been very popular; people are sitting in the audience telling you they’re not, yet we go ahead, it gets passed and it hurts people.”

Elder mentioned recent ordinances on accessory dwelling units and wetlands as having unintended consequences for some residents. But he focused on the controversial home-based business ordinance. 

The measure was drafted by a Lewes Planning Commission subcommittee chaired by Kevin Keane. Keane is also running for city council.

After two years of discussion and several versions, council passed the ordinance 3-2 last December. They then rescinded it in January.

Elder said he was part of a small group that only needed two meetings, and two hours, to hammer out a new version that will soon be rolled out to mayor and city council.

“I know Mr. Keane wasn’t happy about that, but he joined us and we’re getting this done,” Elder said. “I think it will be accepted. It may not be perfect, but it’s better.”

Elder is now leading an initiative on parking that he has named Squeeze the Balloon. The goal of his working group is to find a balance for parking in the business district and neighborhoods that serves residents and visitors.

He called it a Herculean task with many challenges.

“We have a business sector that needs help getting more customers in and out; we’re putting a lot of pressure on residential areas, plus we have a lot of employees coming in. Even if we come up with a plan, it will be a fix and not a solution,” Elder said.

He said a fix might include better enforcement and a form of public transportation, like the short-lived Lewes Line shuttle.

Elder also pointed to his leadership in getting the city’s smallest streets reclassified as alleys and in getting the code changed for the width of driveways.

He said he plans to focus on property rights, neighborhood infrastructure and sound financial management, if he is elected to a new term.

Elder’s seat, and the seat currently held by Councilman Tim Ritzert, are both up this year. Ritzert has not announced whether he will run again.

If an election is needed, it will be held Saturday, May 9.

Elder said experience is vital to council moving forward.

“It would be a great loss if Mr. Ritzert doesn’t run and a great loss if I would not be here,” he said. “We have work to do in Lewes. Let’s get it done.”