Ritzert runs for re-election in Lewes

Tim Ritzert sat in the tiny office in Lewes City Hall reserved for members of council.

When he’s not there, the two-term councilman can be found in municipal meetings, sometimes as a concerned citizen, or discussing issues with constituents.

That is Tim Ritzert in his element. It might not be a surprise that Ritzert has filed to run for a third council term.

“I’ve given this job six years of my life and thought maybe it was time to walk away. But I put the brakes on, looked at it a different way and thought there’s still a place for me here,” Ritzert said. 

He joins incumbent Councilman Joe Elder and Lewes Planning Commission Vice Chair Kevin Keane in the race for two available seats.

If there are at least three candidates, Lewes will have a municipal election Saturday, May 9. The city has not had an election since 2022.

No current member of council, including Ritzert in his current term, has won a contested election.

Ritzert chose not to run for mayor in 2025, leaving Amy Marasco to become mayor uncontested. Despite his decision then, Ritzert was outspoken about the need for elections.

“The city that prides itself as the First Town in the First State is not practicing a founding principle of democracy – that representative leaders are chosen through an elective process. To see Lewes slip into this pattern bothers me,” Ritzert said last April.

Ritzert said he was thinking about competition when he entered the council race this time, but it was not the deciding factor.

“I’m very concerned about the community becoming apathetic and complacent and, if my candidacy represents an opportunity to cause people to exercise the franchise to vote, I’m happy to be that third party,” he said.

Ritzert said council has work to do when it comes to creating a more diverse economy.

“The record shows I voted for many hundreds of more homes to be constructed here in Lewes. What is apparent to me is that we should not be afraid of growth, but it is the type of growth,” he said. “The bulk of our development in last six years has been residential. I believe we are falling short of diversifying into more commercial, possibly industrial, development.”

Ritzert said council could achieve more economic diversity through a thorough review of zoning and proper planning. But, he said, businesses should not be moving into residential areas, referring to the home-based business ordinance that council has been debating for two years.

Ritzert said his primary job is to protect the investment people have made in their properties.

“People have chosen to live in a particular type of home in a particular neighborhood. The expectation is that we, on council, are going to uphold some level of what is expected in that zone,” he said. “So, I don’t encourage the idea of home businesses, and certainly not home businesses with employees, coming to residential neighborhoods.”

He said he supports funding the city’s Resiliency Fund at some level at council’s discretion each year, but not at a prescribed percentage.

Ritzert said he does not consider council’s accomplishments to be “Tim’s accomplishments,” but he did point to two issues in which he played a significant role:

• Improving strained relations between the city and the Board of Public Works, including getting both sides to hold quarterly joint meetings

• Working with telecommunications carriers to improve infrastructure and cellphone service. He said he supported Shentel’s city-wide installation of fiber optics that has given residents a choice for high-speed internet.

Ritzert is now leading a working group on night sky lighting. The group is developing a pilot program that would place more environmentally friendly lights in three different Lewes neighborhoods. 

He said that is just one reason why he wants to return to city hall to finish the work he has started.

“I’m looking forward to getting out in the neighborhoods and talking with people,” he said. “I’m enthusiastic about this opportunity to continue to serve.”