Recount upholds Lee's win over Sheriff Christopher

In two stunning upsets, Republican newcomer Rob Arlett has defeated incumbent Vance Phillips to become the Republican candidate for Sussex County Council's District 5 seat, while in an extremely close Republican primary for sheriff, Robert Lee of Seaford ousted incumbent Jeff Christopher of Greenwood by only 21 votes of 10,197 votes cast.

The slim margin triggered a Sept. 11 recount of the absentee ballots in the sheriff's race. The recount, conducted by the Sussex County Superior Court Board of Canvass, was done quickly with no discrepencies, said Kenneth McDowell, director of Sussex County Department of Elections.

Under state law, an automatic recount is triggered when a candidate loses an election by fewer than 1,000 votes or by less than one-half percent – whichever is less. Only .2 percent of votes cast separated Lee and Christopher.

In results from the Sept. 9 primary, Arlett tallied 1,095 votes to Phillips' 893, while Lee garnered 5,109 votes, barely edging out Christopher with 5,088. Phillips, of Laurel, has served county council for 16 years.

“It's a great day for the voters of District 5,” said Arlett. “Their voice has been heard. There will be a new councilman in the district.”

Arlett will face Bob Wheatley of Laurel, who in the Democratic primary garnered 703 votes, defeating Dagsboro Mayor Brad Connor with 462.

Wheatley credits grassroots campaigning with his success. He knocked on 1,100 District 5 doors across the county in an effort to get his ideas out. “I was listening to people and sharing my ideas how to make Sussex County a better place to be,” he said.

Wheatley has served on the county's planning and zoning commission for 20 years.

“What impressed me the most is to serve District 5, it takes a person who can synthesize many points of view and find a solution or set of solutions to address everyone's needs,” Wheatley said.

Wheatley will face Arlett for the District 5 council seat and Lee will face Lewes Democrat Beau Gooch in the race for Sussex sheriff in the Tuesday, Nov. 4 general election.

Lee thanked his supporters, who he is calling “The 21 Club,” in reference to the margin of votes in the sheriff's primary.

In the Republican primary for register of wills, incumbent Cynthia Green of Greenwood garnered 5,527 votes, defeating Brian Butler of Greenwood with 4,305 votes. Green will face Democrat Greg Fuller of Lincoln in the general election.

Lee wins narrow primary victory

“This is a huge victory for a lot people in Sussex County,” Lee said following Thursday's recount. “I'm very humbled and proud of those people who supported me and worked hard for this.”

He said he and his supporters – who gathered in Georgetown on primary night – were on edge all night as the close results were tabulated.

Lee said if he wins the November election, he has one priority: “I want the county to go back to the traditional sheriff I've known in my lifetime,” he said. “I will focus on getting back to the job description of the sheriff without creating controversy and causing court cases. I want to bridge that gap between the county council, courts and police departments. We can get a lot more accomplished when we all work together.”

Lee said he does not support his opponent's views that the Sheriff's Office needs arrest powers to carry out its job, which includes delivering court papers and conducting sheriff's sales.

Arlett: A win for the voters

Arlett, of Frankford, said he knew the odds were stacked against him running against a 16-year incumbent councilman. “I stayed on a true course. My goal from Day 1 was to run a positive campaign based on the issues that are most important to the voters,” Arlett said.

Arlett said as a conservative Republican, he and Phillips did not differ that much on the key land-use issues in the county. “But to me, the most important issue is who you are as a person. I think people are tired of elected officials' public lives being different than their private lives.

“I think people are tired of Mr. Phillips' personal issues, which are distractions,” he added.

Arlett, who has lived in Sussex County for nine years, said the biggest obstacle he had to overcome was getting his name known on the western side of District 5 – which covers the bottom quarter of the county from the Maryland border to the ocean – in and around the towns of Delmar and Laurel.

“All I needed was the opportunity to meet with people so they could get to know me,” he said, adding he had some Delmar residents working behind the scenes on his behalf.

Phillips: 16 years is enough

“Sixteen years working the public is more than an enough,” Phillips said. “In a way I'm relieved that I can move forward to private life.”

Phillips said there is no doubt the pending civil lawsuit against him was the main issue in the primary. “Republican primary voters are very conservative, and I couldn't defend myself against moral changes against me. I'm proud be a member of a party that cares about moral values.”

Delaware State Police and the Attorney General's Office investigated Phillips after an anonymous letter circulated throughout Legislative Hall in Dover alleging Phillips had acted inappropriately in a matter involving a young woman. No criminal charges were filed against Phillips by either agency.

On May 6, 2013, the woman filed a civil suit in Kent County Superior Court alleging sexual misconduct against Phillips. The jury trial will take place in 2015. Phillips has been instructed by his attorney not to comment on the pending lawsuit.

Phillips, a Laurel-area farmer, was first elected to county council at the age of 36 and had won two primaries in 1998 and 2002. He also ran unsuccessfully for the U.S. Senate in 1996.

“I can't put words to how much I appreciate those who have supported me,” he said. “The comments being posted on Facebook are very humbling,” he said.

Wheatley: Grassroots effort pays off

Wheatley said his grassroots push was a daunting task because he could only get to about eight to 10 voters per hour as he reached out to registered Democrats who were likely to vote in the primary. “Through my work over the years with planning and zoning, I thought I knew everything about Sussex County,” he said. “Well, I went to some places I didn't know we had.”

He said the real benefit of his grassroots campaign was that he had the opportunity to meet with a lot of people from diverse backgrounds. Living in the Laurel-Delmar area, Wheatley said he had to focus a lot of his campaign on the eastern side of the county where he was as well-known. “I had some really great folks working with me,” he said.

“I've promised people my best efforts. I don't want to be that politician that people only see once every four years,” he said.

Wheatley said if he wins the November election, he would step down from his planning and zoning seat at or before the first planning and zoning commission meeting that month.

Board will investigate complaints against Wilson

The primary is not over until all the paperwork is done. That's what the Board of Canvass will do at the county's department of elections in Georgetown at 10 a.m. Friday, Sept. 12. In addition, the board will address any complaints filed during the primary.

Kenneth McDowell, director of Sussex County Department of Elections, said his office has received three letters complaining that Sussex County Councilman Sam Wilson, R-Georgetown, violated election laws by campaigning against Sheriff Jeff Christopher within 50 feet of a polling place.

“I was not aware of this until Wednesday after he lost,” McDowell said.

McDowell said the only conversation he has had with Christopher was providing him information about becoming a write-in candidate.