District 20 candidates weigh in on issues

Not much separated the incumbent representative for District 20 from her challenger as the two met in Milton Oct. 15, to answer questions on issues facing the Milton-area district.

However, on the controversial hospital bill, House Bill 350, passed last session and signed into law, there was some difference.

Rep. Esthelda Parker Selby, D-Milton, originally voted against the second substitute of the bill passed by the House April 25 that creates a state board to oversee and approve hospital budgets. But when the bill returned for vote in the House May 21 with a Senate amendment, Parker Selby voted for it. The amendment removed a penalty provision for hospitals in regard to their budgets, and made other cost and financial requirement changes.

During the League of Women Voters debate held at Milton Elementary, Parker Selby pointed out her initial no vote, and said she had heard from many constituents regarding the bill, including hospital officials.

“We are still dealing with some conversations, and will be upon returning [to session],” she said. “Folks, it ain’t over yet.”

Republican candidate Nikki Miller was strongly against government oversight of private hospital finances.

“House Bill 350 was an opportunity for us to show up and advocate for Bayhealth and Beebe hospital, and we had some [legislators] who did not vote for what our doctors and nurses and medical professionals were asking for. We needed to show up for them for that. We do not need an executive board making the financial decisions for Sussex County hospitals,” Miller said.

On education, the two agreed that schools, students and teachers need support to succeed.

Parker Selby, a former educator, administrator and school board member, said affordable housing is needed to help teachers afford to live in the area, and more should be done to address inequities among school districts.

“We need to do more to equalize the districts,” she said.

Miller, former Cape High principal and current supervisor of K-12 instruction for Seaford School District, said support is needed for students and teachers while maintaining accountability and high expectations.

“If you do those things, the test scores will happen,” she said. “When you love what you do, you show up whether it’s a kid in the classroom or a teacher showing up for work.”

On the environment, both women agreed that safeguarding the environment is important, but questioned whether the power grid can support the move to electric vehicles and other electrification. They also said more research is needed on wind power before turbines are placed off the Delaware coast.

“While we need to be looking at green energy, we also need to be thinking about what people can actually afford, and is it actually best for the environment?” Miller said. “ Sometimes things may look really good on paper, but then when we’re looking at the other impacts it has on the environment, it could be counterintuitive.”

Miller said she has reached out to power experts and plans to build relationships with those who know the business.

“You have to tap into the experts who are right here in front of you,” she said.

Parker Selby said she supports green energy, but that she has spoken with electricians in the area who have told her the power grid may have difficulty taking more homes online.

“We really have to look at this,” she said. “We have to pay attention to what are the best needs.”

On wind turbines, Parker Selby said she is having discussions before she makes a decision, and is reaching out to district residents to get their opinions.

Both women agreed LGBTQ students should have support; they are for Second Amendment rights while making sure guns don’t get into the wrong hands; and they would like to see the county enact a voluntary school assessment for developers to pay into a fund for schools.

The two also agreed that more discussion between county- and state-level officials is needed to address infrastructure needs.

“I do believe that you do have to have more state and county relationships,” Parker Selby said. “[The Delaware Department of Transportation] is doing what they can do, and sometimes it takes a while … but we do have to collaborate. We don’t do enough of that in government.”

Miller said working together is key to success.

“Let’s sit down and have conversations with our town leaders, our city leaders and let’s make this happen. Let’s get together and do the work, and really make Sussex County shine, and for Cape, of course, as well,” Miller said.