Sussex voters have important decisions in primaries

Sept. 9 is Primary Day in Delaware.

Most Americans list their right to vote right up there among our most treasured freedoms, but when it comes to primaries, surprisingly few people show up.

With no presidential primary on the ballot, even fewer voters are likely to show up this year than in 2012, which saw the stunning defeat of longtime incumbent Mike Castle by a relatively unknown Christine O’Donnell – and we note it was the voters of Sussex County who paved the way to O’Donnell’s success.

Even without a presidential candidate on the ballot, Cape Region voters have important choices to make, and those who don’t vote in today’s primary may be dismayed by their choices when they get into the voting booth in November. It is precisely because so few voters show up for the primary elections that major upsets can occur.

If you haven’t yet decided who to vote for, the Sept. 5 edition of the Cape Gazette offered candidates a chance to outline their views in their own words.

Their answers can also be found online at capegazette.com. In the U.S. Senate race, Republicans will choose Carl Smink or Kevin Wade to face off against incumbent Democrat Sen. Chris Coons, while in the wide-open state treasurer race, where Democratic incumbent Chip Flowers has withdrawn, Republicans will choose between Ken Simpler and Sher Valenzuela to battle Democrat Sean Barney.

Democrats in state Senate District 18 will choose Patrick Emory or Gary Wolfe to take on longtime incumbent Republican Gary Simpson.

For many Sussex County voters, an important choice will be the Republican race for sheriff, which pits incumbent Jeff Christopher, whose strong views on arrest powers for the sheriff went all the way to the state Supreme Court, against Robert Lee, who holds a more conventional view of the office.

Perhaps most important of all, both parties have a primary in the race for the District 5 Sussex council seat. Though the district only borders the Cape Region, the outcome of these primaries and the November election are critical to the future of Sussex County.

Don’t let others make these choices for you. Go to the polls and cast your vote. Polls are open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.