District 20 candidates square off in business forum

Candidates for the District 20 special election to fill the House seat once held by Stell Parker Selby weighed in on a host of business-related questions July 25 in a forum hosted by the Delaware State Chamber, and local chambers from Lewes, Georgetown and Milton.

In a format moderated by Delaware State Chamber President Mike Quaranta and attended by about 30 chamber members, Democrat Alonna Berry and Republican Nikki Miller were questioned separately so they could not draw on each other's answers.

On the question of increasing taxes on higher bracket earners, Berry said a review of funding gaps and new revenue streams is needed, and then smart decisions can be made before moving forward.

“I think we really have to dig into, what does that policy say line-by-line? Who is it impacting? What brackets exactly are we talking about?” Berry said.

Miller was a hard no on raising taxes.

“Anytime we talk about raising taxes, I’m against that,” she said. “There is money; we have to do a better job of allocating those funds.”

Quaranta shared the chamber recently hosted Office of Management and Budget Director Brian Maxwell who told them Delaware will likely face a budget deficit in the future, requiring officials to dip into the state’s rainy day fund or budget stabilization fund.

Based on that, Quaranta asked what the candidates would do to balance the budget if elected.

Berry said balancing the budget has been an issue for years.

“We have to be able to access those funds in a smart and sensible way, but still be able to continue to build that money so we have it for the future,” she said.

Miller said her No. 1 reason for running as a Republican is because she believes in fiscal responsibility. 

“We are overspending and we continue to overspend,” she said. “If we continue to elect Democrats who are just going to do what the governor is saying and not what the constituents want, that’s what we’re going to continue to see.”

On affordable housing solutions, Berry said when she worked as a housing policy advisor under the Carney administration a lot of discussion focused on the missing middle – townhomes, apartments and units for different income levels.

“Really being able to look at the overall housing stock that we have in the state, and being able to make sure that we’re thinking strategically about where some of the needs are in terms of workforce housing,” she said.

Berry said more should be done to make sure infrastructure is in place before development is built.

Miller agreed planning is needed before development begins, and she said she would partner with local municipalities to bring in mixed housing solutions. As the mother of a son looking to work in the trades, she said she would like to see him be able to afford to live in the area as he pursues a career.

“We need to have people sitting down together to be able to develop these plans,” she said. “We have to look at mixed housing. Not everyone needs a ginormous house … I’m excited to see more apartments and townhomes coming in.”

On the topic of energy solutions for the state, Berry said she would work with experts on what is needed.

“I think this work requires a multi-pronged approach. I think we can’t just lean on one singular solution. I also think that we can’t rush into a decision on how we move forward,” she said.

Miller said she supports green energy, but wants to explore other energy options outside the US Wind offshore wind project.

“We have options for nuclear energy or other green sources of energy,” she said. “It is not in our best interest to put wind turbines off our coast. The county council decided that based on what the community wanted, and then state legislation overturned that. I believe that is an abuse of power and should not have happened.”

On minimum wage, Berry said she believes people should make a livable wage, but in her position running a nonprofit, she understands concerns with making payroll.

“Yes, I would support making sure that communities can have livable wages in this wonderful place that we live, but I would want to make sure that we do it alongside of our business leaders to make sure they are not carrying the cost of that burden moving forward,” she said.

Miller said she believes the $15 minimum wage is fair.

“When you can go and work at Dunkin’ Donuts and make $18 an hour … where we are now is a pretty good spot for minimum wage,” she said. 

Miller said she supports small businesses and has heard many of their concerns while campaigning, both for the upcoming special election and during her campaign against Parker Selby in 2024 when she lost by 245 votes.

“One of the things we need to consider is that the Delaware Department of Transportation has an impact on your business,” she said. “Something as simple as making it difficult to be able to turn into your businesses has a huge impact on your profit.”

Miller said she believes paid family and medical leave should also be left up to employers. As a school administrator, she said, she has seen first-hand the difficulties in filling absences when someone goes on maternity leave, and it is amplified when a couple consecutively takes leave.

“It has had a huge impact on schools … to find a qualified substitute to be in there for 12 weeks and ensure kids are getting what they need,” she said. 

For employers struggling to fill positions, Miller said employees burn out, and its cause should be addressed.

Berry said she understands that many small businesses are struggling, and small business owners should be brought to the table with programs that help them.

“There are opportunities to strategically expand some of those programs and grants to make sure we are targeting populations specifically in Sussex County, specifically in District 20 to make sure there are opportunities for growth,” she said.

Berry said as a mother of two young children she appreciates the leave she has been given to care for them.

“But I do think there is room for some flexibility around how employers implement those things, and it should be responsive to the needs of their employees and the size of their company,” she said.

Creating incentives to fill shortages in some fields of employment, Berry said, is one way of helping companies retain employees.

“If there is an opportunity to create some policy that incentivizes folks at the end of their career who probably could’ve given five or four more years to our community, we should be focusing on that end of the structure as well to make sure we’re providing the same kinds of benefits that we’re providing on the front end to folks who are exiting their career,” she said.  

On the creation of the Diamond State Hospital Review Board to review hospital budgets, which is now in the courts, Berry said policy should not be done in isolation.

“Moving forward, I would hope that we are able to connect that policy and those policy choices with some other needs that are impacting what’s happening in our healthcare system," she said.

Miller said she opposes the law that created the hospital review board because the hospitals in Kent and Sussex counties operate differently from upstate healthcare providers.

“We need to be able to ensure that we can control our own spending so that we can get the technology that we need to bring in young medical professionals,” she said. “We do not need a board to tell us what to spend our money on.”

Voters will elect a new representative Tuesday, Aug. 5, for District 20, which includes Lewes, Milton and Harbeson.