Milton and Lewes are at opposite ends of their annual election cycle. In Milton, voters will go to the polls Saturday to select two councilpersons for three-year terms. Incumbents Rich Baty and Emory West are seeking re-election while John Klein and Randi Meredith are seeking office for the first time.
Meanwhile, filing for this year’s Lewes city council election in May opened on March 2. As in Milton, four candidates are running – so far – in Lewes. Incumbents Fred Beaufait and Dennis Reardon are seeking re-election while Kay Carnahan and Andrew Williams are seeking their first terms. Terms in Lewes are three years and there are two seats up for election.
Lewes’ Board of Public Works has also scheduled its annual election for May. Candidate registration for two seats up for election opened in February. Incumbent A. Thomas Owen is the only candidate who has filed so far for that election. Filing deadline for those two elections is April 2.
Lewes and Milton are parallel communities in many ways. Both have deep histories, both are considering wastewater issues, both have development pressures within and around their municipal boundaries, and both have lots of new people bringing varying levels of experience as well as new ideas. In both towns too, this year’s elections have brought out candidates of different generations, which accounts for a variety of perspectives about the future.
Milton’s voters have had the last two months to get to know their candidates and to give the candidates a chance to get to know them. They’ve talked about everything from Zombie Fest to proposed rezonings and the Magnolia Street drainage and bulkhead project. Now it’s time for the Milton voters to return some of that energy by getting to the polls and showing the candidates that they too care about the future of their town.
In Lewes, there’s no lack of issues. Those discussions, in the context of the elections, are just starting. More candidates may join the races.
While Milton voters are heading to the polls, it’s time for Lewes voters to begin paying closer attention.
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Editorials are considered and written by Cape Gazette Editorial Board members, including Publisher Chris Rausch, Editor Jen Ellingsworth, News Editor Nick Roth and reporters Ron MacArthur and Chris Flood.
