Sussex Dems chair resigns over past crimes

Jeffrey Balk submitted his resignation as chair of the Sussex County Democratic Party Oct. 26, after top leadership demanded he step down because of his past sexual abuse crimes.

“Today, I submitted my resignation as chair of the Sussex County Democratic Party. I am stepping down to ensure that I do not become a distraction to the candidates who are running in the 2026 cycle, a critical time for our county, state and country,” Balk wrote in a resignation statement posted Oct. 26.

Top Democratic leadership had called for Balk’s resignation a day before he stepped down.

"We stand with Evelyn Brady, chair of the Delaware Democratic Party, in calling for the resignation of Jeff Balk as chair of the Sussex County Democratic Party,” wrote House Speaker Rep. Melissa Minor-Brown, House Majority Leader Rep. Kerri Evelyn Harris and House Majority Whip Rep. Ed Osienski in a statement released Oct. 25. "As Democrats, we believe in the possibility of growth and reform of offenders, but second chances can’t come at the expense of survivors who are still living with the pain of what was done to them. Survivors of childhood sexual abuse deserve leaders who reflect our highest values of safety, accountability and compassion. It’s time for Jeff to step down so we can uphold the dignity and safety of survivors, the integrity of the party, and the trust of our community."

Brady gave Balk an ultimatum Oct. 10, saying he needed to resign by the end of the day.

“I told her I would not step down,” he said.

Members of the Sussex County Democratic Party executive committee agreed and sent a letter to Brady two days later, vowing their support of Balk.

In the Oct. 13 letter, members ask Brady to withdraw her demand for Balk’s resignation, citing his work in flipping the 20th District seat to Democrat, and anticipating more flipped seats in 2026 under his leadership.

They also noted that the Democratic Party has advocated for restoring full rights to those who have completed all conditions of their sentences.

“We are blessed with many productive citizens who had serious transgressions when young and became important contributors to our society – this includes members of Congress and even judges. If the convicted were to have their errors follow them the rest of their lives, it would be impossible for them to succeed. That is why so many believe in second chances,” the letter reads. “Jeff Balk is a second chance success story, and a positive example of what those who commit serious transgressions can achieve if given the opportunity and support.”

The signing members are Loretta Benson, Tim Garrahan, Valencia Hayes, Harry Gold, Michael Weiss, Mitch Crane, Joe Sakaduski, Dick Byrne, Sue Nyden, Jane Hovington, Margaret Reyes, Hunter Hastings, Chris Calio and Brad Conner.

Balk said Paulette Rappa didn’t sign because she was out of town, but she later sent a letter in support of him.

“I did have 100% support of the executive committee to stay on,” he said. 

At the time, Balk said Sussex County Democrats had no knowledge of a news story that would eventually be released rehashing Balk’s past.

In 1988, Balk was convicted of sodomy and deviant sexual assault involving teenage boys, and he served prison time in Missouri. Upon his release, court records state, he was a Tier II sex offender.

He was on the sex offender registry for 25 years, he said, but was removed from it in 2023 after petitioning for removal.

“That’s why you don’t see me on the registry anymore,” he said. “[I] filed asking to be removed based on 25 years of not having any crimes – I don’t think I even had a traffic violation – and the DOJ and state police removed me from the list.”

Under state law, a Tier II sexual offender can petition for removal from the registry 25 years after they’ve been released from custody.

In 2006, Balk bought Rehoboth Beach candy store Snyder’s after previously publishing a free gay publication called EXP. Details of Balk’s past first arose during that time when radio talk show host Dan Gaffney questioned a Balk publication with an X-Men comic book cover, but which contained graphic sexual material inside the magazine.

After renewed revelations of Balk’s past, Sussex County Republicans also issued a statement, calling out executive members who signed a letter in support of Balk.

“While these crimes occurred more than 40 years ago, time alone does not erase their severity or the responsibility of those who now choose to overlook them. There is a difference between completing a sentence and being fit to lead,” wrote Daniel Willis, chair of the Sussex County Republican Party. “Forgiveness and rehabilitation are personal virtues, but leadership is a public trust, and some acts, especially those committed against children, permanently shatter that trust. This is especially true for a county chair, whose role often includes working alongside the youth wing of their party, young people ages 18 to 35, and even engaging with high school students through civic clubs and mentorship programs. The idea that someone with this history could occupy a position that interfaces with young people is not only unacceptable, it is dangerous.”

Balk was elected chair of the Sussex County Democrats in March, and continued to serve as RD14 chair, which he had chaired for four years. He said he stepped down from chair of the 14th District a couple of months ago because it was too much for him to serve as district and county chair.

Now, he said he will have no role in the Sussex County executive committee.

Balk said Loretta Benson, first vice chair for the Sussex County Democrats, becomes chair under the organization’s bylaws. Benson could not be reached for comment.