Three Democrats vie in SD 6 primary
Cape Region Democrats will decide which of three candidates will represent them on the November election ballot. Bob Frederick, Andy Staton and Mike Miller are each aiming to come out on top after the Tuesday, Sept. 11 primary.
The Cape Gazette asked the candidates how they would ease access to medical care and improve the job market in Senate District 6, which includes Dewey Beach, Rehoboth Beach, Lewes and Milton. Answers were limited to 100 words.
Who is running?
Rehoboth Beach resident Bob Frederick, 59, has lived in the Cape Region for more than 20 years. In 1991, he was elected president of Dewey Beach Civic League – a group dedicated to bridging the gap between the interests of homeowners and business. In 1992, he was elected police commissioner of Dewey Beach.
Frederick served eight years as mayor of Dewey Beach. During that time, he was elected president of the Sussex County Association of Towns, which lobbied in Washington, D.C., for a comprehensive beach replenishment program. He was also elected president of the Association of Coastal Towns.
Rehoboth Beach resident Andy Staton, 40, is a Realtor and owner of the Andy Staton Group in Rehoboth Beach. He serves on the board of the Sussex Family YMCA, the board of ambassadors for Beebe Medical Foundation and the leadership council for CAMP Rehoboth.
Staton was appointed by Gov. Jack Markell to serve as chairman of Delaware Real Estate Commission and member of Delaware Economic and Financial Advisory Council.
Staton holds a master’s degree in management from Rensselear Polytechnic Institute.
Lewes resident Mike Miller, 43, is a five-generation native of Delaware. He graduated from Cape Henlopen High School in 1987 and received a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Delaware State University in 1993.
Miller is a member of the National Society of Accountants and Delaware Association of Public Accountants. He owns and operates two small businesses in Lewes – Tax-Man Accounting Service and Miller's Lawn Service.
Q: What would be your three primary goals as a legislator?
Frederick: My three primary goals are interconnected; they are jobs, education and tourism. Jobs: As tourism is the No. 1 job-maker in the 6th District, I plan to work with the Economic Development Office to entice larger, year-round businesses to the area that will spur further job growth. Education is not a “one size fits all” situation. We need to look at the overall education system in the state and make strong decisions to discover what works and what does not in each district, and we need to examine additional options such as charter schools.
Staton: 1. My top priority is to grow our economy and create jobs. By using tax incentives, cutting burdensome regulation and promoting job training we will put Delawareans back to work.
2. I will fix our inadequate and inefficient transportation system. We need to build public-private partnerships – like the Cape May-Lewes Ferry – to meet the needs of our community.
3. I will fight to preserve our quality of life. By 2040, Sussex County is projected to grow by 100,000 residents. If we want to preserve our pristine beaches, clean air and bountiful farmlands, we need to act now.
Miller: 1. To help promote small businesses and lower taxes for them, I will work to lower workman's compensation insurance.
2. Provide our school districts and teachers the resources they need to survive. The state government can be more efficient by combining forces and purchasing all supplies in bulk and distributing them to the schools, which will lower cost and free-up capital for other projects.
3. Having more open space and building a partnership with Sussex County Council to create Sussex County’s first park, with a pond, baseball and softball fields, walking paths and pavilions for family picnics.
Q: What specific steps would you take to facilitate job growth in the Cape Region? What jobs would you seek to attract?
Frederick: It is imperative for government to provide initiative and a positive path for businesses to locate and grow here. I’m particularly interested in exploring options that may be available in green technology and IT. Another important area for job growth is the healthcare industry. I have been a licensed health insurance agent for 20 years and know firsthand the importance of this industry to our community. I served on the Beebe Medical Centers Vision 2005 campaign, which raised millions to build the Route 24 outpatient center and led to the building of the Tunnell Cancer center, creating many jobs.
Staton: To grow our local economy, we must understand where opportunities for growth lie. Delaware Department of Labor states that by 2018, Sussex County will have thousands of job openings in the medical, financial and professional management sectors. To facilitate growth, we must:
- Work with local educators to identify the specific education needs to match the job growth opportunities identified by Delaware Department of Labor.
- Eliminate burdensome regulatory laws prohibiting the start-up and growth of our small-business community.
- Utilize the depth and experience of our community to solve issues, such as public transportation, education and others.
Miller: As I have mentioned over and over, lowering taxes, which small business owners pay. Our community is service oriented. We need to have more workshops and forums where county, state and local government actually come together and meet, not just with one another, but bring in all business owners in those towns and municipalities to discuss their needs. We can attract more doctors, nurses, paralegal and professional services, such as accountants and hair stylists.
Q: What steps would you take to promote access to medical care for residents of Sussex County?
Frederick: If you are referring to physical transportation of residents to medical facilities, it may prove beneficial for medical institutions to investigate forming a shuttle system geared towards that goal. Also, we could create a state-assisted voucher system for cab service and public transportation for those citizens in need.
Staton: I propose a series of bold solutions to attract medical professionals, encourage education and training and create sustainable medical sector jobs. I offer the following solutions:
- Offer tax incentives to attract new business to the area and allow existing businesses to expand.
- Attract medical graduates by creating a debt-relief program focused on Delaware.
- Reduce burdensome regulations that restrict creation and expansion of practices.
- Expand job training for those entering the job market and those out of work.
With my solutions, we can attract new professionals to practice here and allow those already here to expand their practices and see more patients.
Miller: I would host a forum with all the doctors and insurance companies in our region and invite the public to pose questions and have booths set up for doctors to possibly meet new patients. It would be just like going to a job fair; only we could call it a doctors fair.
