VOTE FOR JOAN NOV. 4TH.
On the front page of the SUSSEX COUNTIAN
By Adam Huber, Sussex Countian, Wed Aug 27, 2008, 09:01 AM EDT
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OAK ORCHARD, DEL. -
Six of the candidates seeking seats on Sussex County Council were at the Indian River Fire Company on Monday night to weigh in on manufactured housing and land use issues.
The forum, sponsored by the Delaware Manufactured Home Owners Association (DMHOA), was the second of its kind leading up to the September primary elections, and the candidates were eager to play to the home crowd.
“It’s disgraceful the way you people have been treated,” Third Councilmanic District Democratic candidate Joan Deaver told the gathered members of DMHOA, which has become one of the county’s largest special interest groups in recent years. “I’m at home with you…I will be part of your team.”
“There are some tremendous inequities going on in some of these [mobile home] parks,” added Judson Bennett, a Republican candidate for the same district.
Overall, the forum served as more of a get-to-know-you session of the candidates in attendance, including Deaver, Bennett and Bennett’s primary opponent Mark Baker. Former Georgetown Mayor Mike Wyatt and former Sussex County Sheriff Bob Reed, who are both seeking the Second Councilmanic District seat, were also in attendance, and Mike Vincent, from the First District race, was there.
Candidates from the Third District race did square off on land use issues, however, with Deaver and Bennett arguing for stricter zoning codes and Baker voicing his support for the county’s current AR-1 zoning, which allows two units per acre on agricultural/residential land.
“It’s going to be interesting if Joan Deaver and I run against each other because we agree on this completely,” Bennett said, but Baker defended the zoning.
“Down-zoning, as proposed, would have a catastrophic effect on the agricultural economy,” he said. “[But] it doesn’t mean we can’t do something else to preserve open space.”
“He means he wants to do whatever he wants to on his property,” Bennett responded. “Nobody should profit because somebody else loses.”
“Better zoning won’t make rents go up,” Deaver added.
Ultimately, the candidates stated their basic platforms and listened to members of DMHOA as they recounted stories of fighting for equal housing rights and struggling with what they see as inequitable county ordinances.
“There are 30,000 plus manufactured homes on rented land in Sussex County,” DMHOA President Ed Speraw told the candidates in attendance. “It might behoove you to take a look at manufactured housing.”
The primary election is scheduled for Sept. 9, with the General Election on Nov. 4.
The three Democratic county council incumbents announced late last month they would not be seeking re-election.
“August 14, 2008
Deaver offers appealing idea. CAMPAIGN NOTES
-- Compiled by Bruce Pringle.
Submit election-season news to bpringle@dmg.gannett.com
Going to court to overturn a land-use decision -- one approving or rejecting another couple hundred resort homes, for instance -- can cost thousands of dollars. So a Sussex County Council candidate proposes a "cost-free" alternative.
Joan Deaver, the Democratic nominee in the Lewes-Milton-Ellendale district, promises to push for creation of an independent board to review the council's zoning decisions. There would be no fee for getting the board's opinion.
Deaver will face the survivor of a Sept. 9 Republican primary election between Mark Baker and Jud Bennett.
Sussex Councilman Vance Phillips need not stand for re-election this year, but has nearly all he can handle as vice chairman of the Delaware Republicans”…
Voters have much to say...on one subject, anyway
On the front page of the SUSSEX COUNTIAN
By Adam Huber, Sussex Countian, Wed Aug 27, 2008, 09:01 AM EDT
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
OAK ORCHARD, DEL. -
Six of the candidates seeking seats on Sussex County Council were at the Indian River Fire Company on Monday night to weigh in on manufactured housing and land use issues.
The forum, sponsored by the Delaware Manufactured Home Owners Association (DMHOA), was the second of its kind leading up to the September primary elections, and the candidates were eager to play to the home crowd.
“It’s disgraceful the way you people have been treated,” Third Councilmanic District Democratic candidate Joan Deaver told the gathered members of DMHOA, which has become one of the county’s largest special interest groups in recent years. “I’m at home with you…I will be part of your team.”
“There are some tremendous inequities going on in some of these [mobile home] parks,” added Judson Bennett, a Republican candidate for the same district.
Overall, the forum served as more of a get-to-know-you session of the candidates in attendance, including Deaver, Bennett and Bennett’s primary opponent Mark Baker. Former Georgetown Mayor Mike Wyatt and former Sussex County Sheriff Bob Reed, who are both seeking the Second Councilmanic District seat, were also in attendance, and Mike Vincent, from the First District race, was there.
Candidates from the Third District race did square off on land use issues, however, with Deaver and Bennett arguing for stricter zoning codes and Baker voicing his support for the county’s current AR-1 zoning, which allows two units per acre on agricultural/residential land.
“It’s going to be interesting if Joan Deaver and I run against each other because we agree on this completely,” Bennett said, but Baker defended the zoning.
“Down-zoning, as proposed, would have a catastrophic effect on the agricultural economy,” he said. “[But] it doesn’t mean we can’t do something else to preserve open space.”
“He means he wants to do whatever he wants to on his property,” Bennett responded. “Nobody should profit because somebody else loses.”
“Better zoning won’t make rents go up,” Deaver added.
Ultimately, the candidates stated their basic platforms and listened to members of DMHOA as they recounted stories of fighting for equal housing rights and struggling with what they see as inequitable county ordinances.
“There are 30,000 plus manufactured homes on rented land in Sussex County,” DMHOA President Ed Speraw told the candidates in attendance. “It might behoove you to take a look at manufactured housing.”
The primary election is scheduled for Sept. 9, with the General Election on Nov. 4.
The three Democratic county council incumbents announced late last month they would not be seeking re-election.
By Bruce Pringle • Staff Writer • July 31, 2008
LEWES -- Sussex County Council candidate Joan Deaver says she has gone door-to-door in the Lewes-Midway area for a few hours every day for weeks, asking her potential constituents what concerns them most.
Their answer, she says, doesn't vary.
"It is all, totally, about development," Deaver said as she prepared to leave her Plantation Road home for still another round of visits. "Nothing else whatsoever has come up."
In Milton, another part of the district Deaver hopes to represent, farmer Donald Brittingham said he isn't surprised by her report.
"That's pretty much true" there as well, he said, observing that many residents are dismayed at the extent of development in their midst. "To local people who've lived here all their lives, things just aren't the same. There's nothing wrong with growth. It just needs to slow a bit."
As a statewide candidate-filing deadline passed last week, Deaver captured her party's nomination in County Council's Third District without a fight. No Democrat registered to run against the outspoken activist, who long has accused county officials of foisting unwanted housing projects on already-congested coastal communities.
If anyone doubted growth is an explosive issue in Deaver's council district, they needed only hear from the two Republicans competing for the opportunity to oppose her in the November general election. Jud Bennett greeted fellow Lewes-area resident Mark Baker's last-minute candidacy by calling him a "pawn" of the development industry, prompting Baker to accuse the pugnacious Bennett -- whose views resemble Deaver's and who nearly won election to the council in 2004 -- of starting the primary-election campaign with a smear.
Baker, a manager in his family's Baker Petroleum firm, said he has been "pleased for the most part with what the council has done." He said he has no experience in developing, other than creating facilities for the family business.
"I'm disappointed the first words from my fellow Republican would be an attack, an attack with no basis at all," Baker said. "I look very much to be a consensus-builder. I have no ax to grind."
His father, Wayne Baker, is a prominent critic of government initiatives to reduce property owners' development rights, such as a Delaware program that limits construction on soils deemed excellent for transmitting rainwater to underground aquifers. Mark Baker said he, too, would look out for owners' rights, but "I'm not asking for any radical changes."
Bennett, however, insists change in the form of tighter controls on growth is desperately needed.
"I'm actually glad (Baker) is running," Bennett said, "because his candidacy will only serve to further define my platform."
Said Baker, "I think you'll find our styles are very different."
Republicans will choose between Bennett and Baker Sept. 9. The winner of that primary election will face Deaver for the right to succeed Democrat Lynn Rogers of Milton. Rogers announced last week that he will help with the recovery of his wife, Linda, critically injured in a recent equestrian accident, rather than seek re-election. Four years ago, Rogers retained his seat by defeating Bennett by just three votes of 17,500 cast.
Rogers' fellow Democrats on the five-member council, Dale Dukes of Laurel and Finley Jones of Greenwood, revealed they also will step down for personal reasons. A half-dozen candidates filed to succeed them.”…
302-537-1881, Ext. 202
From CAPE GAZETTE News. Mon, Jun 30, 2008, p. 29.
DEAVER MAKES IT OFFICIAL; SHE'S IN THE RUNNING FOR COUNTY COUNCIL.
By Ron MacArthur, ronm@capegazette.com
With a backdrop of colorful petunias on her backyard deck along Plantation Road, Joan Deaver, a Democrat, made it official Wednesday, June 25 – she has filed to run for the 3rd Councilmanic District on Sussex County Council.
Republican Judson Bennett of Lewes is also contesting the seat, held for the past 12 years by Democrat Lynn Rogers of Milton. Rogers said he would make a decision on filing soon. “It’s pending my wife’s progress because my family comes first,” he said.
Rogers’ wife, Linda, was injured in a serious horseback-riding accident. The deadline to file is noon Friday, July 25.
Deaver said it was fitting to make the announcement surrounded by friends and supporters on her deck – the place where the grassroots group Citizens for a Better Sussex was born. Her group has been in the forefront against the proposed Western Parkway, a yet-to-be-built highway west of Route 1.
Right out of the box, Deaver, who moved to the Lewes area from Annapolis, Md., after retiring, said her campaign would focus on getting people informed.
“People need to be notified so we can get ahead of things,” she said. “We don’t want surprises. We should have something to say about what goes on around us.”
She said as she has talked with people, development and land use are the top issues.
“We need to get hold of our land-use plan. We haven’t finished the current plan we adopted five years ago with ordinances not passed. That’s not good enough for our county,” she said.
She said she can’t understand why the county council can’t agree on a clear definition of open space, which was supposed to be addressed in the previous land-use plan.
Deaver said the current land-use plan calls for the addition of 1 million more homes. “We have to change it. The plan is nothing but pretty words.”
She also said the plan should have been done by county staff, and not consultants.
She said more is needed to support educational opportunities in the county. “We need educated and trained employees,” she said.
The proposed four-year University of Delaware campus in Sussex County would be the most exciting thing ever to happen in the county, she said.
On the subject of jobs, Deaver, a strong supporter of Bluewater Wind’s proposed wind farm off the coast of Rehoboth Beach, said county officials need to be more involved in the process when 500 jobs are at stake. If elected, she would promote the appointment of a county liaison to the project.
Deaver is also a strong proponent of collaboration between various levels of government. “County, local and state governments must work together,” she said. Deaver, who is retired, said she would be a full-time councilwoman. “I hear the councilmen say all the time that the county is in the land-use business, but really they should be stewards of the land. Our job is to preserve the quality of life in Sussex County,” she said.
June 26, 2008
From CAPE GAZETTE News. Mon, Jun 30, 2008, p. 29.
DEAVER MAKES IT OFFICIAL; SHE'S IN THE RUNNING FOR COUNTY COUNCIL.
By Ron MacArthur, ronm@capegazette.com
With a backdrop of colorful petunias on her backyard deck along Plantation Road, Joan Deaver, a Democrat, made it official Wednesday, June 25 – she has filed to run for the 3rd Councilmanic District on Sussex County Council.
Republican Judson Bennett of Lewes is also contesting the seat, held for the past 12 years by Democrat Lynn Rogers of Milton. Rogers said he would make a decision on filing soon. “It’s pending my wife’s progress because my family comes first,” he said.
Rogers’ wife, Linda, was injured in a serious horseback-riding accident. The deadline to file is noon Friday, July 25.
Deaver said it was fitting to make the announcement surrounded by friends and supporters on her deck – the place where the grassroots group Citizens for a Better Sussex was born. Her group has been in the forefront against the proposed Western Parkway, a yet-to-be-built highway west of Route 1.
Right out of the box, Deaver, who moved to the Lewes area from Annapolis, Md., after retiring, said her campaign would focus on getting people informed.
“People need to be notified so we can get ahead of things,” she said. “We don’t want surprises. We should have something to say about what goes on around us.”
She said as she has talked with people, development and land use are the top issues.
“We need to get hold of our land-use plan. We haven’t finished the current plan we adopted five years ago with ordinances not passed. That’s not good enough for our county,” she said.
She said she can’t understand why the county council can’t agree on a clear definition of open space, which was supposed to be addressed in the previous land-use plan.
Deaver said the current land-use plan calls for the addition of 1 million more homes. “We have to change it. The plan is nothing but pretty words.”
She also said the plan should have been done by county staff, and not consultants.
She said more is needed to support educational opportunities in the county. “We need educated and trained employees,” she said.
The proposed four-year University of Delaware campus in Sussex County would be the most exciting thing ever to happen in the county, she said.
On the subject of jobs, Deaver, a strong supporter of Bluewater Wind’s proposed wind farm off the coast of Rehoboth Beach, said county officials need to be more involved in the process when 500 jobs are at stake. If elected, she would promote the appointment of a county liaison to the project.
Deaver is also a strong proponent of collaboration between various levels of government. “County, local and state governments must work together,” she said. Deaver, who is retired, said she would be a full-time councilwoman. “I hear the councilmen say all the time that the county is in the land-use business, but really they should be stewards of the land. Our job is to preserve the quality of life in Sussex County,” she said.
Civic activist Joan Deaver enters Sussex Council race
Democrat says 'It's about future'
By DAN SHORTRIDGE, The News Journal
Another candidate outspoken on development issues has entered the race for Sussex County Council.
Activist Joan Deaver, of the Lewes area, on Wednesday filed to run for the seat now held by Council Vice President Lynn Rogers, D-Milton.
"Whether we have lived here our entire life or recently arrived, we must all work together on long-range plans for responsible growth," Deaver said. "It's about the future."
Deaver, a Democrat who heads the Citizens for a Better Sussex group, joins Republican Judson Bennett of Lewes in the race.
Bennett lost to Rogers in 2004 by just three votes after two recounts.
Rogers has not yet said whether he will run again. His wife, Linda, is recovering after being seriously injured in a fall from a horse.
Deaver has protested against the county's approach to managing growth and against the state's proposed Western Parkway plan along the Del. 1 corridor, near her home. She also has spoken in favor of adding two at-large seats to the council.
A former marina owner from Annapolis, she was active in grass-roots groups there.
Democratic control of the council is up in the air this year, and with it may change the county's much-criticized stance on development.
Republican Mike Vincent of Seaford, who lost four years ago to Councilman Dale Dukes, D-Laurel, is running again, though Dukes has not said whether he will run.
Dukes beat Vincent in 2004 by 287 votes out of more than 11,000 cast.
Council President Finley B. Jones, D-Greenwood, whose seat is also up this year, is considering a run for the seat being vacated by longtime state Rep. J. Benjamiin [sic]Ewing, R-Bridgeville.
Jones said Wednesday he should make a decision in that race within a few weeks.
June 12, 2008
Activist seeks county post
By Bruce Pringle, Staff Writer
Deaver, 66, who lives between Midway and Angola, is the founder of Citizens for a Better Sussex, which has urged state legislators to revamp County Council to give coastal residents more say. She has been a prominent opponent of the proposed Western Parkway, a road that would parallel Route 1 in the Lewes-Rehoboth Beach area.
She seeks the council's District 3 seat, held by Democrat Lynn Rogers of Milton. Her running could force a Democratic primary election against Rogers, who has yet to announce whether he will try for a fourth four-year term.
Rogers has focused in recent weeks on the recovery of his wife, Linda, from multiple serious injuries suffered in a horse-riding accident.
"I don't have time to think about" Deaver's challenge, he said shortly before the council's meeting Tuesday night.
Republican Jud Bennett of Lewes also is running for Rogers' seat.
bxpringle@dmg.gannett.com 302-537-1881 Ext. 202
Democrat Joan Deaver seeks seat on Sussex County Council
By Kevin Spence, k.spence@capegazette.com
Joan Deaver, an outspoken activist and controlled-growth advocate, announced Monday, June 9, that she will run for Sussex County Council’s 3rd District. The seat, which represents Lewes, Milton and Milford, is held by Democratic incumbent Lynn Rogers, serving his third term. Deaver, 66, also a Democrat, is originally from Baltimore. She has lived full time in the Cape Region since 1994.
“We’re giving people a real chance here. After a while you have to step up and that’s what I’m doing.
“It’s the last thing I thought I would do, but it’s time for a change and I hope others will follow,” she said.
Deaver began her local activism near her home in 1998, when neighboring farmland was being rezoned to commercial.
She said she received little notice of the rezoning and called it alarming. She roused others to oppose it, and the while the county planning and zoning commission did not approve the rezoning, county council did, she said.
“I’m used to people being able to appeal. Around here, you have to have deep pockets to get an attorney. I’m for the people. This is our life here. It shocked me into action,” she said.
In 2004, Deaver organized Citizens for a Better Sussex to protect the quality of life in the rapidly growing Cape Region. She is president of the nonprofit association but said she is giving up her post to run for council.
Last year, the Delaware Department Transportation (DelDOT) announced plans to build a Western Parkway – a move opposed by critics who said it would remove farmland without solving traffic woes.
In response, Deaver, who lives on Plantation Road near Lewes, formed the Plantation Road Coalition to oppose the four-to-six lane highway. “It grew into a coalition of diversity. A no-build coalition,” said Deaver. That coalition consists of rural residents, farmers and African-American residents of Jimtown – all opposed to DelDOT’s plans, she said. “Inclusiveness is key,” she said.
She also said she hopes to serve a four-year council term after the 2010 U.S. Census, which may allow for better representation through redistricting. “My campaign is about a fair, inclusive and equitable districting,” she said. “I’ve been getting wonderful response. They say, ‘Finally, there is real chance for Sussex County,’” she said.
Deaver lives with her husband, Bill, and has two children. She said she enjoys gardening and last year, she sold flowers in front of her Plantation Road home. “It’s a family tradition, my parents used to sell fish,” she said.
Deaver said she will file to run within a few weeks.
Rogers, who has not yet filed, has yet to say if he will, following a horseback-riding accident that left his wife severely injured. “I’m waiting for the doctors to tell me what to do now,” he said.
Republican Judson Bennett, who lost by three votes to Rogers in 2004, filed for the 3rd District seat in January. “I don’t understand exactly why she’s doing it because we have been allies in the past. She’s supported my campaign in the past. I’m not sure at this point what to make of it. I’m a managed-growth candidate and she’s a managed-growth person. I think I’m the best guy for the job, but I think she’s dedicated to her principles. If she ends up being the Democratic candidate, it will be a spirited election,” said Bennett. Said Deaver, “We have to get through the primary. We have to focus on the primary.”
Three district seats – all held by Democrats – are up for election in November. None of the incumbents has filed for re-election.