Jones, Koskey face off in clerk of the peace race
The clerk of the peace race features Republican Norman “Jay” Jones against Democrat Charlie Koskey. Jones is the mayor of Ellendale. Koskey is a former Georgetown councilman. Among the responsibilities the office has are issuing marriage licenses, officiating Memorable Marriage ceremonies and providing certified copies of marriage licenses issued in Sussex County. Current Clerk of the Peace John Brady, a Democrat, decided to not run for re-election after he was offered a court-appointed position as chief deputy register of wills in Sussex.
• Norman “Jay” Jones •
Party: Republican
Age: 33
Education: High school graduate, public service and management courses.
Occupation: Ellendale mayor and Cintas First Aid and Safety
Residence: Ellendale
Relevant experience: Performed several marriages as an ordained minister and mayor of Ellendale. I have held positions that require staying within budgets and increasing revenue.
• Charlie Koskey •
Party: Democrat
Age: 51
Education: graduate, Delmar Junior and Senior High School; Jersey City State University and Allegany Community College
Occupation: Entrepreneur and jeweler
Residence: Georgetown
Family: Wife, Donna
• Why are you running for clerk of the peace?
Norman Jones – I am running for Sussex County Clerk of the Peace to uphold the current standards already in place within the office. With my experience I hope to increase revenue without interfering with private-sector businesses and provide quality memorable marriages. It would be a pleasure to officiate marriages within the county. My goal is to stay within budget and show that love is greater than money.
Charles Koskey – My passion for public service. As a jeweler in Georgetown, I've had the pleasure of helping countless couples prepare for the day when they say “I do.” Now, I'd like to bring my experience as a businessman, along with my passion for creating lasting memories, to the Office of Sussex County Clerk of the Peace.
• What are your thoughts on the state’s civil marriage equality law and should they be updated for any reason?
N.J. – The rules regarding civil unions and same sex-marriage were decided by our General Assembly. I will continue to fulfill the duties as outlined by that legislation. As far as any changes in those policies, I do not believe there should be a large amount of time spent on continuing that conversation. I want to concentrate my efforts in continuing the growth in the number of weddings conducted at the Marriage Bureau. I want to make memories in our beautiful county – either in one of our historic surroundings, the coastal beauty or a corn field.
C.K. – The U.S. Supreme Court affirmed marriage equality in June of 2015. When elected, I will be sworn in to uphold the Constitution of the United States of America. I do not feel changes are necessary.
• How do you propose making the clerk of the peace at least revenue neutral for the county? Does the service the office provides outweigh the need to be revenue neutral?
N.J. – This office provides a needed service to the county, and I will do everything to maximize revenues while closely managing expenses. That said, the service outweighs the need to be revenue neutral. The fees need to be reasonable, and since they are set by county council it will be up up to them to change the fees. I will look at all of the services and fees charged by the office to determine what, if anything, needs adjusting. Sussex County does not charge veterans and active duty service members for licenses and ceremonies. I pledge to keep that in place.
C.K. – While the service to the community is very important, taxpayers want to know that those elected are working as hard as they can to maintain low taxes. I propose adding fee-optional features including taking a lasting photo of the ceremony; upgraded marriage certificates suitable for framing; a ceremony DVD; live streaming from council chambers; an evaluation of the current fee structure; and working closely with Southern Delaware Tourism to add materials to be marketed for Sussex County as a destination for weddings, thereby increasing the number of weddings annually.
