Sen. Joe Booth takes PR position at Sussex Tech

Sen. Joe Booth, R-Georgetown, who is running unopposed in next month’s election, has taken a public relations position at Sussex Tech.

In addition to his legislative duties, Booth has been named community business and industry liaison for the school district.

The new position has a one-year term and is primarily grant-funded.

Booth’s job will include building partnerships with businesses in Sussex County in order to provide work opportunities and possible grants for students at the high school and in the adult education program. He will also develop a tracking system for alumni so the school can monitor the success of its graduates.

“I appreciate them giving me this opportunity,” Booth said. Having had five children, he said he has always been involved in youth sports and activities and welcomes the opportunity to use his business strengths to help students further.

“I look forward to the challenge,” Booth said of handling both jobs.

He will no longer be operating his dry-cleaning business, which was a six-day, 50-hour-per-week endeavor.

Sussex Tech School District Superintendent A.J. Lathbury said Booth beat out about a dozen candidates for the position.

Booth’s involvement in the community since high school and his ties to the chamber of commerce and local business owners made Booth the best candidate for the job, Lathbury said.

Lathbury declined to release Booth’s salary pending a Freedom of Information Act request. Booth said he has not signed a contract with his new employer and does not yet know his salary.

Sen. George Bunting, D-Bethany Beach, said he is disappointed Booth has taken the job. Bunting said even if Booth recuses himself from voting for funding or other issues related to Sussex Tech, Booth will still have influence over the positions taken by his fellow legislators.

“Joe is a great friend of mine, I’m just disappointed he is following through with this,” Bunting said.

Booth said he is no longer on the Joint Finance Committee, but if a vote concerning Sussex Tech comes up, he said he would of course opt out.

Booth has no Democratic opponent in the general election. He narrowly defeated challenger Eric Bodenweiser earlier this month in the Republican Party primary.