Midge Smith announces council seat bid

Midge Smith, an academician and businesswoman, has announced her candidacy for Lewes City Council. Smith, age here, has experience in planning, management, and evaluating public programs. She said she is committed to maintaining a high quality of life for city residents.

“With the strength of the historic character of our community as a base, I believe Lewes’ future rests on keeping its citizens actively engaged in what we are becoming,” Smith said.

At 10 a.m., Friday, April 8, on the steps of City Hall, Smith will make a public announcement of her candidacy.

Smith and her husband, Carl Wissler, have been full-time Lewes residents since 2001. She lives on Park Avenue. Smith holds a PhD from the University of Maryland, Department of Administration, Supervision and Curriculum. She has been active in local government, and currently serves on the Lewes Board of Adjustment.

In 1996 she founded a successful business for training professional evaluators from around the world. She later donated the business to George Washington University in Washington, D.C.

Smith’s entry has turned the election into a competitive race. Two city council seats are open and before Smith entered the race, only two people, incumbent City Councilman Victor Letonoff and challenger Fred Beaufait were running.

Longtime city Councilwoman Stephanie Tsantes is not seeking reelection. A city councilwoman for more than a decade, Tsantes said the demands of her professional career as a public defender influenced her decision not to run.

Letonoff, 77, was elected to City Council in May 2007. He has been a resident of Lewes since 1984. Letonoff graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point and served in the United States Army for 35 years. He is also an accomplished fine artist. Letonoff lives on Railroad Avenue.

Beaufait, 74, is a civil and structural engineer. He has also been a college president, professor and dean of engineering. He lives on Blue Heron Drive.

The annual municipal election is Saturday, May 14, in City Hall.