Sussex County Council primary: Meet the candidates
Delmarva Now, the Delaware Wave and the Delaware Coast Press asked all candidates in the Sussex County Council Republican primary to complete a questionnaire on their candidacy. All answers have been published unedited. Candidates are listed alphabetically. Should a candidate’s answers exceed the allotted word count, their response will appear with an ellipsis marking the maximum number of words. The Delaware primary is Thursday, Sept. 6.
District 4
Douglas B. Hudson
Age: 58
Occupation: Retired Delaware State Police (27 years of Service) Realtor with Beach Bound Realty.
Why are you running for office?
Top Reason for Running: I am seeking the 4th district County Council seat in order to continue my more than 30 years of serving the people of Sussex County and the State of Delaware. As a lifelong resident, volunteer and career public safety retiree, I believe I can make a difference for our county.
Top 3 issues? What is your stance on each, and how would you address it?
1. Public safety is the number one priority in the Sussex County, and having a sufficient amount of State Troopers in the county is paramount. Keeping response times down and proactive policing are key factors in keeping the county safe. The county has a strong relationship with the Delaware State Police and I will work hard to maintain or expand the current agreement to secure additional troopers for Sussex County.
2 & 3. The lack of road infrastructure and traffic congestion are also very important issues. The Planning and Zoning Commission recently conducted a two year revision of the Comprehensive Land Use Plan, and a large amount of that time was spent addressing these problems. Numerous workshops and public meetings were held and I developed strong relationships with Del DOT personnel and engineers. To address these problems I will continue to grow these relationships and work in concert with Del DOT. I strongly believe that partnering with Del DOT is the best way to tackle these issues.
Closing argument: I have been in public service most of my life. First, as a member of the Bethany Beach Vol. Fire Co., a Delaware State Trooper for 27 years and a coach and board member at Lower Sussex Little League. For the past two and a half years I’ve served on the planning and zoning commission, and with my knowledge of the county, I will be an asset to the overall improvement of the county.
The opportunities I have had in serving the state and county have prepared me for a position on the county council, and it will allow me to give back to my community. My experience in Sussex County clearly makes me the best candidate for the 4th district seat on the county council. Please vote for me in the primary on September 6th. Thank you.
George Parish
Age: 77
Occupation: Served as elected Clerk of the Peace for two terms, Justice of the Peace, Honorably served in the U.S. Army Reserves for six years and retired federal employee.
Why are you running for office?
Are you a Sussex Countian who's fed up with traffic congestion and inadequate infrastructure?
I'm George Parish - YOUR Republican candidate for Sussex County Council, District 4.
It's time to just say LET'S FIX IT!
Our LET'S FIX IT! campaign will promote an optimistic future for all Sussex Countians.
LET'S FIX the traffic congestion.
LET'S FIX the impact of development.
LET'S FIX the job market.
LET'S FIX the quality of life concerns.
LET'S FIX the lack of any at-large County Council members.
This energetic candidate is well known by our county officials and Sussex County state legislators.
These relationships will be mutually beneficial when the State Legislature is considering legislation impacting Sussex County.
Our LET'S FIX IT! campaign will help ensure that Sussex County will always be a special place.
George Parish is "running for office" to implement our LET'S FIX IT! campaign platform.
Top 3 issues? What is your stance on each, and how would you address it?
1. LET'S FIX the traffic congestion by approving Transportation Improvement Districts, by increasing road capacity to ease traffic flow and by planning for new roads. It is essential to promote a collaborative, coordinative and cooperative relationship with the State of Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT). One of the many benefits of this relationship will be a mutual interest to improve traffic flow.
Representatives of the citizens, elected officials and appointed officials are serving on a committee to resolve the traffic problems at the five points intersection. This consensus approach should serve as a model of how to improve traffic flow and solve our transportation issues.
Approved Transportation Improvement Districts will enable Sussex County officials to be involved in recommending and approving road work, have predictable infrastructure costs, share reasonable costs between developers and the State of Delaware, gather specific traffic data and highlight the linkage between land-use decisions and transportation decisions.
2. LET'S FIX the Impact of development by balancing infrastructure with development, by considering a transfer of development rights program to protect areas and by reducing pollution in our Inland Bays. The issue of adequate infrastructure must be effectively addressed in the new Comprehensive Plan.
The Sussex County Council must have the political will to introduce and approve appropriate ordinances to implement the infrastructure goals identified in the Comprehensive Plan.
The political will may include adopting a transfer of development rights program to protect areas from development, revisiting our policies governing the wetlands, requiring developers to equitably share in infrastructure costs and questioning the approval of new developments without adequate infrastructure.
3. LET'S FIX the quality of life concerns by approving homestead tax exemptions for permanent residents, by supporting additional state troopers, by encouraging enterprise zones and by electing an at-large president of the County Council.
Closing argument: George Parish is an energetic and enthusiastic candidate for Sussex County Council, District 4.
It's time to empower voters with the right to vote for an at-large president of the County Council and the right to vote for a district County Council member. This proposal will enable voters to hear a candidate for president of the County Council focusing on the impact of county-wide issues and to be represented by more than one member on the county council.
This candidate supports low property taxes. We should approve homestead tax exemptions for permanent residents.
We should support a new coastal area designation restricting upzoning in environmentally sensitive areas.
Join our LET'S FIX IT! campaign to reduce traffic congestion, balance infrastructure with development and improve our quality of life.
Vote for George Parish for Sussex County Council, District 4 and LET'S FIX IT!
The winner of the Republican primary will face Democrat Paulette Ann Rappa in the general election on Nov. 6, 2018.
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District 5
Kevin J. Christophel
Age: 30
Occupation: Branch manager/ loan officer at The Bank of Delmarva
Why are you running for office?
I decided to run for office because I believe Sussex County needs a new face and a new perspective on issues we have recently faced. Sussex County needs someone who does not have past opinions or has been involved.
We as the people need to bring in someone from outside the establishment to have an honest and unbiased opinion. Sussex County Council has the chance now, more than ever, to innovate the county to prepare for the future. If elected, I hope to be a small business champion to attract new industry, be a magnet for better paying jobs, ease regulation and help our entrepreneurs.
I will fight for my constituents on the protection of private property rights, maintain a business-friendly environment, and oppose regulation that would that would impede expansion of businesses and communities. My traditional values with help of modern technology make me a suitable candidate for office.
Top 3 issues? What is your stance on each, and how would you address it?
1. Jobs — We need more. I want to provide everyone in Sussex the opportunity to a better paying and prideful job. My solution to that problem would be to work with local townships and state government to ease regulations, increase our talent pool and work with local schools to help our children prepare for those jobs.
There are a ton of ideas floating around but Sussex County has an easy solution. I plan on working with the Economic Development Office to help drive these businesses here. I have done this previously with the Laurel Chamber of Commerce as their president.
We need to assist national businesses or local businesses with tax incentives and infrastructure to entice them to relocate. Providing our recent graduates with opportunities will allow them to remain in Sussex County and help us grow the right way.
2. Infrastructure — The first thing I am going to do is meet with the planning and zoning board on a regular basis, communicate with every state agency on a regular basis, and work for the people to bring back Sussex County's fair share of spending from the state.
It’s been too long that Sussex gets the short end of the stick with the rate of growth we are experiencing. Sussex County is justified to receive additional spending from the state level to make this happen. I will be a fighter to make sure this happens. We need strategic planning for new roads. Having open communication will allow this to happen.
3. Natural Resources — We need to find the correct balance of natural resource preservation vs natural resource consumption. I want to protect the environment while maintaining the counties level of growth. The shoreline needs our attention, the ponds need our attention and its our duty to put people to work. …
Closing argument: I want to be a part of change. I am energetic, dedicated and excited for the future. I want to foster the idea of change and encourage my constituents to become more involved in decisions that affect their daily lives. We need to reignite the energy and allow positive development to occur.
If I am elected to the county council there are two important things…
First, I will put my personal opinions aside to be the voice for my constituents. I believe in being a voice for others to drive a progressive outcome for all residents in Sussex County. To accomplish this, I plan to listen and learn so we all may have a brighter future.
Second, I will stress the importance of promoting the county, the benefits of being a part of this county and how to serve everyone in the county, not only the voters in your district.
John Rieley
Age: 62
Occupation: Financial advisor
Why are you running for office?
I have lived in Millsboro with my wife and 12 children on her family's farm for over 37 years. I have watched Sussex County grow and change from a rural farming community with some tourism to a premier retirement and resort destination. This has brought both benefits and challenges.
As the 5th district Council representative I want to work to protect our farms, open spaces and natural resources while strengthening economic opportunities and quality of life now and in the future for the next generations."
It is important to do this in a fiscally responsible way and to keep taxes low and regulations to a minimum.
Top 3 issues? What is your stance on each, and how would you address it?
There are a multitude of issues that need to be addressed in Sussex County. The top issues are familiar to us all.
•Keeping development from outpacing the infrastructure.
•Protecting our natural resources and especially the inland bays.
•Improving and diversifying the local economy to ensure good jobs.
The questions are always around how to do this. I would point to the county's comprehensive plan that should be adopted this fall. This document reflects the input of stakeholders from all points of view that have been compiled from numerous public meetings.
The council's job will be to follow the blueprint provided by the plan and adopt the proper ordinances to implement it.
This must always be done with a eye toward fiscal responsibility and in compliance with the established body of laws around land use.
County Council's budget is heavily dependent upon transfer tax revenue. Recent growth in the housing market has placed the county in a good financial position. It will be incumbent upon the council to maintain this position and also foresee a day in the future when growth is not as robust and revenue streams may diminish. Maintaining a healthy financial position and keeping taxes low will require planning now. Not in ten years when we are faced with a changing demographic.
There are a number of additional issues as well including county wide access to high quality, high speed internet service.
Protecting our farms and agribusiness that represent the number one economic driver in the county will be important as we consider regulations and future ordinances.
Closing argument: Sussex County is a great place to live and raise a family or to retire to. We are however at a crossroads as the rapid growth we are experiencing will likely continue for the next ten years. Decisions made by Council today will have an impact on the quality of life our children and grandchildren will have. I want to work to make sure that future is as bright as possible for them. I would appreciate your support and your vote on Primary day!
The winner of the Republican primary will face Democrat Ellen M. Magee in the general election on Nov. 6, 2018.