Mark Schaeffer takes seat on Sussex County Council
With safeguards in place due to the COVID-19 pandemic, three Sussex County Council members were sworn in during a Jan. 5 ceremony in council chambers. Council members and family members were separated by a Plexiglass shield from the judges who performed the ceremony.
Mark Schaeffer of Lewes, with his wife Ruby holding the Bible, was sworn in as new District 3 councilman, while Cindy Green of Greenwood, accompanied by several family members, was sworn in as District 2 councilwoman.
Mike Vincent of Seaford, who has served on council since 2008, was sworn in for his fourth term and was also elected president of the council. District 5 Councilman John Rieley was elected vice president.
Norman “Jay” Jones of Ellendale was sworn in for his second term as Sussex County Clerk of the Peace.
Schaeffer, a former Smyrna mayor, defeated incumbent Irwin “I.G.” Burton in the Republican primary and held off a write-in campaign challenge by Patty Drago in the November election.
Green defeated Lisa Hudson Briggs and Robert Wilson in the Republican primary and had no Democratic challenger in the November election.
Republican Vincent defeated Democrat Hunter Hastings in the general election.
Green is the third woman to serve on council, and only the second woman to win an election for the office. Kitty Cole, mother of former District 4 Councilman George Cole, who served from 1986 to 2018, was appointed to fill out the term of her husband Charlie Cole after he passed away, and Joan Deaver won the District 3 seat for two terms from 2008 to 2016.
Green had served as Sussex County Register of Wills for 10 years. Gov. John Carney appointed Ellen Magee of Selbyville to fill out her term until 2023. Magee is leaving her seat on the Sussex County Board of Adjustment to take the new position.
Because Magee represents the District 5 area, Rieley is expected to nominate a new board member in the near future.
Rounding out the council is District 4 Councilman Doug Hudson, who has served since 2018.
Council also approved J. Everett Moore Jr. as county attorney. Staff from the Moore & Rutt and Parkowski, Guerke & Swayze law firms will represent the board of adjustment and planning and zoning commission respectively as assistant county attorneys.
Sussex County Council districts
District 1 in western and central Sussex County includes the communities and areas near Bethel, Blades, Bridgeville, Laurel and Seaford.
District 2 in northwestern and central Sussex County includes the communities and areas near Ellendale, Georgetown, Greenwood, Lincoln, Milford and Millsboro.
District 3 includes the area from Route 24 northward, including the communities and areas near Lewes, Milton, Broadkill Beach, Ellendale, Milford, Primehook Beach and Slaughter Beach.
District 4 includes the area around the Inland Bays, including the communities and areas near Bethany Beach, Dewey Beach, Long Neck, Henlopen Acres, Millville, Oak Orchard, Ocean View and Rehoboth Beach.
District 5 in southern Sussex County, extending from the Maryland line to the Atlantic Ocean, includes the communities and areas near Dagsboro, Delmar, Fenwick Island, Frankford, Laurel, Millsboro, Millville, Selbyville and South Bethany.
