Two candidates are challenging incumbent Ted Becker in the mayoral election in Lewes this Saturday.
Andrew Williams, current deputy mayor, and Richard Moore are running for the three-year term of mayor. Each candidate received and responded to an identical candidate questionnaire. Their answers are presented below without edits.
If registered to vote in Lewes, residents can vote between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. at Lewes City Hall, 114 E. Third Street.
Ted Becker
Why are you running for Mayor of Lewes?
I am seeking re-election to continue the work that I have been doing on behalf of the citizens of Lewes over the past 18 years. Lewes is facing many challenges that will require collaboration with both Sussex County and state agencies, I believe my established relationships will help the city accomplish outcomes that be most beneficial to Lewes.
What are the top three issues facing Lewes?
- Addressing unprecedented development of the lands surrounding the city, work that will have to be done with Sussex County.
- Improving Lewes’ ability to respond to climate change and improve the community’s resiliency.
- Working with DelDOT to ensure the three main accesses to Lewes are functional and improvements to these roads consistent [with] the community’s needs and yet respectful of the Scenic Byways that are so important to Lewes.
Lewes continues to react to a growing number of visitors and residents. What do you envision for the city’s future?
We have Historic Preservation ordinances in place however; we need to make sure that these ordinances reflect the City’s Core Values. The Historic District of the city is an extremely important part of the city’s character and charm.
The city will undertake the establishment of an intercity bus line this summer as a pilot program, it is anticipated that this seasonal program will help to address some of the traffic concerns. In addition, the city is working to develop a parking permit system for the 2023 summer season that will help address parking concerns in the residential areas of the city.
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Lewes is a popular tourist destination which requires that we continue to explore and develop ways to improve access and yet make sure that our streets and roads remain functional.
Lewes has an extremely bright future however; we must work to maintain residents and visitors respect and appreciation of the many attributes that make this such a wonderful community.
Andrew Williams
Why are you running for Mayor of Lewes?
I was born and raised in Lewes, but moved away for college and to start my career. When it came time to raise our children, my wife Rita and I decided to return to Lewes. I ran successfully for council and now for mayor, not to recreate the Lewes of my childhood but help us prepare for our future. A future where we can raise our families with hope and retire without fear and trust your government is open, honest and transparent. I want to make the residents our first priority and show that we are not only listening but also acting in their best interest.
What are the top three issues facing Lewes?
- Regaining the residents’ trust. By offering more opportunities for interaction, we can heal and build. These communications need to be regular, honest and transparent. Communal focus. This is on all of us. We can provide an example from the leadership and actions of the City, but Lewes’ biggest asset is its residents and we need to foster that resource. Our Lewes doesn’t have an I, but there is a WE in the middle.
- Growth. The growth that has occurred and the growth continuing around us will continue to be challenging. We need to be intentional, proactive and collaborative in our approach. Our community and city need to find additional communication channels, communicate effectively and to leverage the assets Lewes provides within the county, state and beyond. As Lewes continues to develop, we will need to be opportunistic and innovative in our solutions to address the needs of our expanding community.
- Lewes needs to continue examining and strengthening our own code. The code must complement the direction of our Comprehensive Plan. The current plan is under review for the 5 year update. We also need to be proactive in our approach so that we are anticipating outcomes rather than reacting to them.
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Lewes continues to react to a growing number of visitors and residents. What do you envision for the city’s future?
Our community continues to grow. Retirees and seasonal/part-time residents have been drawn to our area. The focus on building out the residential demand has created the need for businesses and full-time residents to support the overall growth. To become a more diverse and sustainable community, Lewes needs to shift its dependency on growing its residential base. Instead, create an environment that is attractive to small, light industrial development zones. By looking to attract artisans, craftsmen and technology-based start-ups we can create a more diverse workforce and increase employment opportunities.
Richard (Ric) Moore
Why are you running for Mayor of Lewes?
After nearly two decades of short-sighted vision and ill-informed governance, our city’s elected officials have put all of us at the mercy of destructive development, which is rapidly compromising both our environmental security and our core values as the first town in the first state. It’s time we prioritize the long-term needs of our community over the short-term profits from this irresponsible sprawl. That’s why I am running for mayor on a transformational platform grounded in the key principles of sustainable governance: competent science, common sense and community consensus. And having spent more than three decades on the forefront of sustainability research and development, in various management roles, I have the experience, connections and commitment to lead the change that Lewes desperately needs.
What are the top three issues facing Lewes?
- I believe our greatest challenge is destructive development. And while we cannot stop the sprawl, we can certainly slow it, by implementing sustainable development policies and practices. We must begin by ensuring that our 2025 Comprehensive Plan clearly articulates a blueprint for responsible land-use policies and nature-based solutions. Solutions that promote energy security; mitigate stormwater runoff; and enhance community infrastructure, while preserving natural environments and protecting historic landmarks. We will also need to work more closely with our state and county partners to align our planning activities for mutual benefit. Likewise, we should cultivate effective alliances with academic institutions willing to share their groundbreaking research.
- We will need to move beyond an economy built around seasonal tourists and affluent retirees to embrace a more sustainable economic development strategy. One that promotes innovation and leverages our incredible community expertise, while fostering age, income, and cultural diversity. To begin with, we must focus future development around affordable housing options that are both multi-income and multi-generational. We should also provide incentives for attracting “right fit” businesses and entrepreneurial ventures that create synergies between our natural resources and our social institutions. And to support both business development and remote work, we can repurpose vacant structures into shared office, networking and studio space.
- Finally, in meeting these challenges, we need to ensure a more transparent, responsive and inclusive governance process, by involving the community in open and honest discussion around its shared vision for the future. We should hold regular in-person and online forums to engage local expertise, while sharing information and stimulating civic discourse. We should also implement a robust community mediation process for resolving disputes and avoiding spurious lawsuits; make our city website far more user-friendly; and launch an accessible “hotline” for responding to resident questions and concerns.
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Lewes continues to react to a growing number of visitors and residents. What do you envision for the city’s future?
For decades, Lewes served as a peaceful retreat for residents in search of small town life and natural environments, as well as tourists anxious to avoid the crowded beaches and noisy nightlife of nearby resort towns like Rehoboth and Dewey Beach. But now that peace has been greatly compromised by rampant development that flies in the face of our core values as a safe, liveable and diverse community, invested in preserving its “human town scale,” “face-to-face intimacy,” and “historic relationship with the sea.” So if we are to slow the impact of suffocating sprawl, we must come together as a community around a shared vision for our common future. A vision that supports both our core values and our vibrant history as the First Town in the First State, while serving as a beacon for building a resilient coastal community, which puts the long-term needs of its people front and center.
Emily Lytle covers Sussex County from the inland towns to the beaches. Got a story she should tell? Contact her at elytle@delmarvanow.com or 302-332-0370. Follow her on Twitter at @emily3lytle.
