Meet the Dover City Council Candidates 2021
As the time approaches for the City of Dover’s regular municipal elections, the Central Delaware Chamber of Commerce is happy to introduce the people who will potentially serve as your voice in city government. Regular City of Dover Municipal elections are held in odd-numbered years on the third Tuesday in April. The Mayor and nine Council Members are elected to four-year staggered terms on a non-partisan basis. Two members are elected from each of the four Council districts; the ninth member of Council and the Mayor are elected at large.
This year’s regular and special City of Dover municipal elections will be held on Tuesday, April 20, 2021between the hours of 7 am and 8 pm. The polling places will be announced closer to the date of the elections.
David L. Anderson, 4th District
Please rate the following issues in their order of importance for the City of Dover: (1 – the MOST important; 4 the LEAST important)
1 – Safety
2 – Business Development (permitting, zoning, etc.)
3 – Infrastructure Development (roadways, broadband, electric/water/sewer upgrades)
4 – Parking
All of these are important issues and interrelated. Without safety no one invests, without business development, infrastructure does not follow, and success there necessitates better parking. Other issues like homelessness and youth services matter as well to the quality of life.
What is your number one objective as a returning or new City Councilperson?
Restoring community policing and making sure Dover has the most business friendly reputation in central Delaware. I have also helped start infrastructure projects to improve McKee Rd, College Rd. Kenton Road, Garrison track connection to SR. 1, and Kings Hwy/ U. S. 13 intersection upgrade. I want to see those followed through. They are vital to continued economic growth and safety.
What initiatives would you support to address racial, social and/or ethnic disparities in Dover?
I helped initiate the diversity and inclusion strategic framework. I want to ensure it is properly implemented. I support better and more broad-based recruitment, inclusive contracting and community policing.
Within the next fiscal year, would you support raising taxes or fees on businesses, properties, water, sewer or electric?
I am not so inclined in this environment. If it is necessary to fund policing, I want to keep it minimal and focused.
Tricia K. Arndt, 3rd District
Please rate the following issues in their order of importance for the City of Dover: (1 – the MOST important; 4 the LEAST important)
- Safety
- Parking
- Business Development (permitting, zoning, etc.)
- Infrastructure Development (roadways, broadband, electric/water/sewer upgrades)
Infrastructure Development and Business Development are two sides to one coin– Economic Development. We need the infrastructure in place to attract new business, and the processes in place to retain, grow, and permit existing and new business. Safety is an overarching concern that should be integrated into all aspects of planning- such as ensuring safe pedestrian and bicycle access in transportation projects, and improved lighting and other crime deterrents in commercial and residential projects. Most of the City has ample parking with a few exceptions that need to be addressed on a case-by-case basis.
What is your number one objective as a returning or new City Councilperson?
I have always been driven to serve my community and truly believe in Dover’s possibility. I look forward to working with other members of Council, City government, residents, and business owners to strategize and implement ideas to capitalize on what’s working, to improve what could be better, and to reach our full potential as our State’s capital.
What initiatives would you support to address racial, social and/or ethnic disparities in Dover?
There is much work to do with regards to equity, diversity, and inclusion, but it’s encouraging that the topic is finally at the forefront of many initiatives. We, as a society, are having difficult conversations about race and equality; efforts are underway to revitalize struggling neighborhoods in Dover; and our police department is holding community forums to improve relations. I support these efforts and hope to contribute to a more inclusive and transparent government.
Within the next fiscal year, would you support raising taxes or fees on businesses, properties, water, sewer or electric?
Obviously, this will be my first budget cycle as a member of Council. With the economic decline and lost revenue, I expect the task to be quite challenging. I will do my best to strike the right balance between the services provided and the cost for those services.
Andre M. Boggerty, Candidate at Large
Please rate the following issues in their order of importance for the City of Dover: (1 – the MOST important; 4 the LEAST important)
1 – Safety
2 – Business Development (permitting, zoning, etc.)
3 – Parking
4 – Infrastructure Development (roadways, broadband, electric/water/sewer upgrades)
What is your number one objective as a returning or new City Councilperson?
My primary objective is to receive input from constituents regarding their concerns. Bring those concerns to the council and city leaders so we may develop strategies to resolve or provide meaningful response(s) to stakeholders. I plan on having Coffee with Your Councilman throughout the city on a quarterly basis.
What initiatives would you support to address racial, social and/or ethnic disparities in Dover?
The development and promotion of affinity groups within our city would serve as a great tool to address specific issues. I would also enhance the promotion of events such as Dover Days to bring the community together. Additionally, I would use the Coffee with Your Councilman forums to hear concerns as addressed in #2. Lastly, I would attempt to effectively disseminate various resources and opportunities such as foodbank locations, employment opportunities and college/trade school fairs.
Within the next fiscal year, would you support raising taxes or fees on businesses, properties, water, sewer or electric?
No. Absolutely not.
William F. Hare, 2nd District/Council President
Please rate the following issues in their order of importance for the City of Dover: (1 – the MOST important; 4 the LEAST important)
1 – Safety – I think public safety remains my top priority, with public safety comes growth and development in our business community and an enjoyable community for our constituents.
2 – Infrastructure Development (roadways, broadband, electric/water/sewer upgrades)
Infrastructure improvements must remain towards the top of our list. To provide clean water, support growing areas, we need the infrastructure to get updated and evolve as quickly as our community is.
3 – Business Development (permitting, zoning, etc.) This is important and when all is handled properly it should automatically improve the parking in Dover. Making sure that new business allow ample parking for their businesses in the initial process will help. Outside of the parking issues, we have to consider the impacts of not allowing some things to happen more timely than they do and what businesses have we lost due to a cumbersome process? Although some improvements have been made over the years, there is still more we can do.
4 – Parking – This is an important issue and there are parking mtgs taking place with the DDP and other business owners. I think their ability to come up with solutions are going to be viable. These are the merchants who are directly impacted by parking the most. I feel confident in the abilities of the business owners to present some great solutions.
What is your number one objective as a returning or new City Councilperson?
To continue making Dover a safe and inclusive place where all people want to be. Where folks feel safe and want to spend time with their families at events, our parks and just simply enjoying Dover. We need to be sure all people are incorporated into this. If we can all work together for the greater good, we can accomplish a lot.
What initiatives would you support to address racial, social and/or ethnic disparities in Dover?
The City Council has the results from our Diversity and Inclusion study, and we have an update coming before us to see where we are with hiring practices and reaching out to various entities to expand our area of recruitment to potential employees in the minority population. Also, what has been done to educate our current employees about understanding and appreciating the diversity in the current workforce. I feel we will know more about whether good practices are being followed after the update.
Within the next fiscal year, would you support raising taxes or fees on businesses, properties, water, sewer or electric?
Last thing anyone wants to do is raise taxes or fees. However, we have to be sure that the income received covers the expenses. (A good example was when landfill costs went up and recycling fees by our contractor – it was costing us out of the general fund just to perform those 2 services). We have to look at the costs and weigh the benefits – the city has done a good job of scaling back on any excess, so we will have to see where we stand in our financial forecast. This pandemic may have thrown a wrench in where we are versus where we anticipated being, and the last thing I would want is to have to raise anything that would cost our taxpayers.
Michael W. Lewis, Candidate at Large
Please rate the following issues in their order of importance for the City of Dover: (1 – the MOST important; 4 the LEAST important)
- Infrastructure Development (roadways, broadband, electric/water/sewer upgrades)
- Safety
- Business Development (permitting, zoning, etc)
- Parking
All of the above topics are secondary to doing everything we can to fight, defeat and move beyond the COVID-19 pandemic, which touches all city residents and businesses in one way or another. Fortunately, we have the ability to tackle more than one challenge at a time. Everyone benefits from updated infrastructure projects and increasing public safety, and I look forward to learning more about the latest business development (both downtown and along U.S. 13) and parking areas planned for the near future.
What is your number one objective as a returning or new City Councilperson?
Moving forward with steady leadership and accomplishing positive change for the city in a fiscally responsible manner. It sounds simple enough, but how often do we see nonsense issues (both nationally and locally) get in the way of actual progress and growth? During my time in local media I saw instances of town government meetings in Kent County (not Dover) be bogged down in personality conflicts and one time end early for a Monday Night Football kickoff. I’m looking forward to rolling up my sleeves, doing the homework and actually getting things done.
What initiatives would you support to address racial, social and/or ethnic disparities in Dover?
Kent County has the highest percentage of African-American residents (more than 27 percent) of any county in Delaware. As the economic headquarters for the county, Dover needs to be a welcoming community for all residents, where businesses at all levels can prosper and everyone pulls together for the common good. I support any initiative that helps keep our business/economic engine moving forward, rewards creativity, and encourages residents to both respect one another and care for the community that we all share.
Within the next fiscal year, would you support raising taxes or fees on businesses, properties, water, sewer or electric?
With everyone feeling the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, including the business community, I would anticipate council attempting to do everything in its power to avoid approving tax or fee increases in the coming fiscal year. While it is impossible to predict future challenges or reactions to hypothetical situations, my first instinct is that this year, more than most, needs to be as fiscally prudent as possible, given the sacrifices our residents and business owners have already made in the past 12 months.
LaVaughn McCutchen, Candidate at Large
Please rate the following issues in their order of importance for the City of Dover: (1 – the MOST important; 4 the LEAST important)
1: Safety
2: Infrastructure Development (roadways, broadband,
electric/water/sewer upgrades)
3: Business Development (permitting, zoning, etc.)
4: Parking
What is your number one objective as a returning or new City Councilperson?
The reason why I am running is to serve my constituents of the City of Dover. To listen to and address the on-going issues of the city. And increase quality of the government for all of Dover De.
What initiatives would you support to address racial, social and/or ethnic disparities in Dover?
There are number of things I would support that have been recommended by our great residents of the city which consist of the city building and maintaining a healthy relationship and partnerships with colleges and universities, and organizations. Also create a Diversity and Inclusion council that is made up of many demographics, functions, and levels, with a senior person of the City of Dover police department as head of said council.
Within the next fiscal year, would you support raising taxes or fees on businesses, properties, water, sewer or electric?
No, I would not raise taxes unless absolutely necessary. Also, I would speak to my constituents to see how they feel about a tax raise themselves. Many may not be able to afford it also, we have no idea how the curve of the pandemic will be within the next fiscal year.
Fred A. Neil, 3rd District
Please rate the following issues in their order of importance for the City of Dover: (1 – the MOST important; 4 the LEAST important)
- Safety
- Parking
- Business Development (permitting, zoning, etc)
- Infrastructure Development (roadways, broadband, electric/water/sewer upgrades)
The survey rankings don’t mean anything because Public Safety and Infrastructure are a big part of the foundation to creating a robust economic development program for Dover. The City Council has already made a significant investment in the expansion in the Police Department. Planning Director Dave Hugg has changed the culture of his Department lessening barriers to new businesses. Our new City Manager has been brought in for his acumen in the Business Development.
That leaves Parking, a prime downtown concern. As a member of DDP, I served on the Parking committee. The City Council passed an ordinance permitting DDP wide latitude on resolving Parking issues on their own.
What is your number one objective as a returning or new City Councilperson?
I ran for re-election because I want to keep the City on track of being a well-run, modern city, rebuilding our infrastructure after the recessional set back that started in 2008, embracing new technology, with an eye to spending the taxpayers’ money carefully, with compassion for those who need help, within what is allowed by the City Charter.
What initiatives would you support to address racial, social and/or ethnic disparities in Dover?
The City Council has the results from our Diversity study. We have done a lousy job of recruiting competent minorities to fill the ranks of our openings. A recent controversial salary study may help, but I believe we will need our HR Department to find the key to recruiting or find someone who can.
Within the next fiscal year, would you support raising taxes or fees on businesses, properties, water, sewer or electric?
This question is like asking, when did I stop beating my spouse? The pandemic has financially, severely hurt virtually every person and business with a few exceptions, such as owners of Leased Land Communities which is recession proof. When will the Chamber do something about making that fair?
The City Council will soon start deliberating on the Fiscal ‘22 Budget. Unlike the Federal Government, the City Council can’t print money. We can’t bolster your Survey ranking of A and D to help with C if our study of the budget indicates we need to raise money. I can only promise that I am aware of what we have all been through during this continuing pandemic, and I will use my best judgement in keeping the cost to our taxpayers the same, or as low as possible, if fees or tax increases are required to be raised.
Gerald L. Rocha, Sr., 1st District
Please rate the following issues in their order of importance for the City of Dover: (1 – the MOST important; 4 the LEAST important)
1 – Safety
2 – Business Development (permitting, zoning, etc)
3 – Parking
4 – Infrastructure Development (roadways, broadband, electric/water/sewer upgrades)
What is your number one objective as a returning or new City Councilperson?
Safety for our citizens in the downtown area and vicinity and working with Dover PD to help carry out a successful Community Policing strategy.
What initiatives would you support to address racial, social and/or ethnic disparities in Dover?
I am working to support the improvement of diversity & inclusion within our City Government and in our communities in Delaware as a member of United Way’s Delaware Racial Justice Collaborative (DJRC). Also, as a member of the Transparency & Accountability Committee of the State’s Law Enforcement & Accountability Task Force, I am working with committee members to make recommendations to our state leaders to foster fairness, accountability and transparency regarding police use of force.
Within the next fiscal year, would you support raising taxes or fees on businesses, properties, water, sewer or electric?
Over the next fiscal year, I believe the proper term to use is balance. As a tax payer, I would not want to put any further strain on tax paying citizens and on the other hand, would not want to burden our businesses either. As a city official, I would recommend optimizing our revenue and taking a hard look at our existing revenue streams and current assets. Try to find a balance that is beneficial to all parties and at the same time, being fiscally responsible in the budget decisions for the upcoming fiscal year.
For more information about City of Dover Elections, visit www.cityofdover.com/elections.
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