Sussex County is governed by a five-member elected council. There are five geographic districts within the county and each Council member is elected from their respective district to serve a four-year term. Candidates for the County Council must be at least 18 years old and residents of Sussex County. Among the responsibilities of the County Council are: * Establishing policies for the health, safety, and welfare of County residents; * Adopting an annual budget for county government operations; * Enacting plans for county growth, development, and employment.
Salary: $43,580/year
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Party: Republican
Campaign Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/MattLloydDE
Campaign Email: lloydmatthewr68@gmail.com
Campaign Phone: (864) 706-6721
Neighborhood/area of residence: West Laurel
Education: Community College of Air Force – Associates Level
Community Involvement: 40th Rep District Chairman, President of Southern Delaware Toastmasters (Public Speaking, Leadership)
Work Experience: 7 Years Air Force Special Operations, Air Traffic Controller, Small Business Owner, Property Owner, Farm Owner
Q: What are your qualifications for office, and (if challenged) what differentiates you from the other candidate(s)?
A: I served for 7 years in the Air Force, Special Operations as a Combat Controller (CCT) on Active Duty, highlighting my leadership, discipline, and teamwork. My time on a Crisis Response Force gave me a deep understanding of the aspects of Public Safety, including fire, EMS, and paramedics, and their need for funding, training, and equipment. For the past 10 years, I’ve bought and maintained my portfolio of residential rental properties like a small business, providing me extensive land use experience. As a farming family member and owner of a 60+ acre farm in Laurel, I understand farmers’ challenges. I am active in my Political Party as Election District Chairman for the 40th RD and serve as President of Southern Delaware Toastmasters.
Q: What do you see as the most urgent issues in your County at this time?
A: It is evident there is a workforce and affordable housing crisis in Sussex County, while runaway development of high-end homes consumes farmland and natural resources without meeting residents’ needs. Infrastructure is inadequate for the growth we’re experiencing, affecting roads, hospitals, and public safety. My priority will be providing adequate zoning for workforce and affordable housing while ensuring infrastructure supports this growth. I’ll focus on higher-paying jobs by proposing shovel-ready commercial sites for major employers. I am committed to better jobs, affordable housing, and stopping sprawling development into farmland. I have heard the people’s voice and will deliver on their concerns.
Q: Do you think any strategic changes are needed in the county’s approach to growth & development, land use or transportation planning for the coming decade? (Yes or No). Please explain.
A: Yes. Roads, schools, hospitals, and senior care facilities are all at capacity. Fire companies need salaried staff to maintain low emergency response times, and police forces need quality recruits. This highlights the failure of the current Comprehensive Plan to meet all residents’ land use needs. Gathering critical data, such as an inventory of undeveloped lands in each zoning district, paired with other relevant data, will be essential. This information will help guide us as we prepare for the rapidly approaching 2028 Comprehensive Land Use plan update. My goal is to achieve the necessary changes as fast as reasonably possible, because residents and the environment cannot take 4 more years of this.
Q: How will you ensure that your county has land use measures that allow for the development of affordable housing?
A: Currently, we cater to wealthy out-of-staters while pushing out our workforce, which feels immoral and wrong. I have a deep understanding of affordable housing and what constitutes true affordability. Government-subsidized programs are often ineffective in helping people achieve homeownership. I will advocate for additional GR, MR and HR zoning. These zoning districts exist to accommodate the workforce and affordable housing needs of the County, and it is obvious there is a lack of undeveloped inventory for each. This will enable people to buy starter homes and find affordable rentals instead of renting at unsustainable rates. Ensuring workforce and affordable housing is one of my highest priorities once in office.
Q: How will you engage with residents, especially minorities, to ensure their voices are heard and considered in decision-making processes?
A: While improvement is always possible, I think the county does well in making public hearings accessible. These hearings are broadcast live online and recorded for posterity, allowing all citizens to review them on the county web site. Access is easy via personal cell phones, which are commonly held among high school-aged individuals and the elderly. I propose holding budget meetings in a similar public manner online and welcome other ideas to ensure county business remains as transparent and accessible as possible. Of note, residents on the campaign trail have suggested enhancing notifications for upcoming major projects through mailed notices. I am keen on reviewing and improving this process.
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Party: Republican
Campaign Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61562579955771
Campaign Email: cshirey88@gmail.com
Campaign Phone: (302) 569-2770
Campaign Website: Imwithchristie.com
Neighborhood/area of residence: Laurel
Education: Degree in Respiratory Therapy
Community Involvement: I am a Sussex County native and have been very active in my community. I was the committee chairman of an annual Veterans Day parade and assists animal rescue groups.
Work Experience: The majority of my career was in Critical Care, Trauma, Burn Respiratory Therapy. I now work for a non-profit to assist the senior population and caregivers. I schedule support groups and programs for caregivers and their loved ones with added attention to those with Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. I also assist in connecting the senior population with programs and services.
Additional Information: This decision was not planned, it is in response to the alarming increase homelessness in the senior population despite multiple development projects in Sussex County. I am not a politician but I think you should do what you can to help and I could not stand by and watch any longer.
Q: What are your qualifications for office, and (if challenged) what differentiates you from the other candidate(s)?
A: I have devoted my career to helping people. I was a respiratory therapist for over 20 years and specialized in critical care, burn and trauma patients. I now works to help the senior population and their caregivers in Sussex County. I am the one candidate who is currently on the front line working with the people of Sussex County who are facing the consequences of over development.
Q: What do you see as the most urgent issues in your County at this time?
A: I support growth, but I feel our county government has a responsibility to the people who already live in Sussex County, There is a responsibility to ensure our workers and those who have already spent their lives contributing to the community have a safe place they can call home. A home they can afford. It is the job of the County Council to enact plans pertaining to development that will ensure this responsibility is fulfilled.”
Q: Do you think any strategic changes are needed in the county’s approach to growth & development, land use or transportation planning for the coming decade? (Yes or No). Please explain.
A: I do think strategic changes are needed. I support growth but planning must include infrastructure, services and quality of life. All predictions suggest our population will continue to grow and the average age will increase. Sussex County is already experiencing a shortage of doctors and other medical personal. Most of our citizens are required to travel to find specialist including geriatricians or Movement disorder specialists. Newly graduated physicians are not moving to Sussex with the cost of living being one of the main reasons. We need a level playing field that includes affordable housing, senior housing and transportation that is more tailored to the needs.
Q: How will you ensure that your county has land use measures that allow for the development of affordable housing?
A: I believe developers have a responsibility to the community and this responsibility needs to be set by the County Council. This could be accomplished by requiring a percentage of building be allotted to affordable and senior housing in order to get permits. Many of our seniors, who have lived here all their lives, exist on $1000 a month. Our teachers, nurses, retail and restaurant workers and even doctors are unable to compete with those moving in who made more than ten times their salary. Programs must be developed using the permit process, incentives, rent control and other measures to ensure safe and affordable housing for our workers and our seniors.
Q: How will you engage with residents, especially minorities, to ensure their voices are heard and considered in decision-making processes?
A: I plan on continuing working with the senior population and those in need, after the election. What happens on the east side of the county affects the west side. Uncontrolled growth leads to shortages of necessary critical infrastructure and critical human resources. It must be controlled better. I plan on giving a voice to our most vulnerable populations and serving them is the best way to realize their needs. As I tell the people I serve, I am just a phone call away.
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Party: Republican
Campaign Email: MikeH.Vincent1@gmail.com
Campaign Phone: (302) 236-4518
Neighborhood/area of residence: Seaford
Education: Graduate Seaford High School
Community Involvement: Boys and Girls Club board. Life member Seaford Vol. Fire Dept. Seaford City Council. Sussex County Council. Active in St. John’s Methodist Church
Work Experience: Auto mechanic. Auto parts salesman. Emergency apparatus salesman
Q: What are your qualifications for office, and (if challenged) what differentiates you from the other candidate(s)?
A: I am a life-long Sussex Countian. I have served the public as a member of the Seaford Vol. Fire Dept. , then as a member of the Seaford City Council and now as a County Councilman. These years of service have allowed me to gain experience it takes to be an effective leader and to develop the relationships throughout the State to be able to better assist the needs of Sussex County. Experience matters and it is not something that happens overnight but it is an essential qualification for public service.
Q: What do you see as the most urgent issues in your County at this time?
A: One of the main reasons I am seeking to serve another term is to ensure the County gets through the reassessment process with the least amount of impact on our property owners as possible. The county was forced to do reassessment but I plan to fight to keep the implications to a minimum. The next priority is to ensure public safety providers including EMS , State and local police , fire and ambulance companies receive the funding they need to continue to provide the level of service our residents visitors have come to expect. And the next priority I have is to continue the County’s efforts to update our Code to better manage the development we see and get DelDOT to fix the roads.
Q: Do you think any strategic changes are needed in the county’s approach to growth & development, land use or transportation planning for the coming decade? (Yes or No). Please explain.
A: There are some items that will probably changed in the future. The important thing is the County’s Comprehensive Plan that is reviewed every year and changes sent to the Governors office at the five year timeline. The plan is a ten year plan and includes the items that your question references. When the plan is done every ten years there are multiple public hearings and meetings for public input before the plan is finalized and voted on by the County Council.
Q: How will you ensure that your county has land use measures that allow for the development of affordable housing?
A: The County has spent a great deal of time and money working on workforce/affordable housing. We have changed ordinances to allow more density and by right development that includes workforce/affordable housing projects. We have a housing trust fund to assist developers and home buyers. We also have an emergency housing fund that helps home owners get emergency repairs that allow them to stay in their home and not be displaced.
Q: How will you engage with residents, especially minorities, to ensure their voices are heard and considered in decision-making processes?
A: I have always been open to any discussion from our residents about issues or changes that are proposed. My contact information on the County contact list is my home number. I am certainly available to anyone regardless of if they are a minority. We are all Sussex Countians regardless of what color , race or religion we are part of.
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Party: Republican
Ms. Green did not respond to the questionnaire.
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Party: Republican
Mr. McCarron did not respond to the questionnaire.
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