Please join us Saturday, May 14, in voting to elect Andrew Williams as mayor of Lewes. Andrew was elected to Lewes City Council two years ago. He served as treasurer for a few months and now is deputy mayor of Lewes. A few months ago when Mayor Becker was on medical leave, Andrew provided a steady hand and continuity in leadership of the city. He does not shy away from raising issues, voting in the minority or abstaining when he feels that information is missing or concerns remain about a matter on which a council vote is being taken.
Andrew Williams is committed to strengthening our relations with organizations that share our concerns and challenges, including Sussex County Council, neighboring towns, and colleges and universities. He speaks often of the importance he places on community involvement and the responsibility of elected officials to actively listen. If elected mayor, he intends to:
• Work to rebuild and maintain trust in Lewes government
• Review the city’s legal and engineering representation
• Support and strengthen the work of Lewes' commissions and committees
• Improve city council's ability to carry out its functions in a well-informed, efficient and timely manner
• Take on the challenges of diversifying the town's economic base and increasing the availability of affordable housing
• Prioritize a response to changing climate and rising sea levels that uses science, experts, best practices, community involvement, outreach to funding resources, focused relationships with neighboring towns and states, and a much-needed sense of urgency
• Leverage our assets in negotiations with Sussex concerning, among other areas of concern, water and sewer infrastructure.
The Fisher’s Cove debacle brought us to our knees and exposed our city’s weakness. Trust and respect within the community are strained. Development is rampant. Healthcare is struggling to meet demands, our schools have an ever-growing population of students, traffic is a mess, and everywhere we look there is another development and more open space gone forever. Most big things that really matter die in committee or are shuffled to another committee for inaction.
Andrew and Rita Karapukar Williams both grew up in Lewes. After starting careers elsewhere, they returned to Lewes to raise their sons. Andrew wants Lewes to be a town whose children, whether they leave as he did or stay, want to work and raise their families here. He knows that in order for this to happen, Lewes needs a diverse economic base and an appropriate infrastructure, including healthcare, housing and water source protection. Andrew understands too the importance of the availability of education opportunities and a vibrant culture to the decision to come back home to Lewes.
It is time for a change!
Let’s vote in Andrew Williams as mayor of Lewes. His management skills, expert knowledge of emerging technologies and his understanding of the challenges we face as a coastal town are a plus for Lewes. He has the commitment, energy, know-how and get-it-done attitude to lead Lewes toward the future our charming, much-loved town deserves.
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