Rep. District 20 candidates going the distance
It’s the final moments of 2016’s arduous campaign cycle, and 20th Representative candidates were hard at work separating themselves from one another during a Nov. 2 forum at Milton Library.
Republican incumbent Steve Smyk, Democratic challenger Barbara Vaughan and Independent Party of Delaware challenger Don Ayotte faced questions during a forum hosted by the Paynter’s Mill development. Topics included beach erosion, illegal immigrants, smart growth, traffic infrastructure, equal access to quality education and homeland security.
Ayotte took a strong stand on homeland security, saying there is a problem with undocumented illegal immigrants who are taking jobs from Sussex Countians.
Smyk said part of the problem with the district’s traffic infrastructure was taking money out of the Department of Transportation’s budget and putting it toward bike trails. It’s an attempt to try and make Delaware something it’s not, he said.
When asked about whether Delaware should become a sanctuary state, Vaughan said she didn’t have a good answer, but she understood why someone would want to come to the United States. She said she thinks people should make every effort to be here legally.
“There’s got to be a middle ground,” she said. “I can promise I’d keep an open heart and open mind on the issue.” Both Ayotte and Smyk are against the idea.
A number of times, the challengers answered questions with a call for action, while Smyk answered with examples of action he’s taken since first being elected to office in 2012.
During a question about the growing heroin problem in Sussex County, Ayotte and Vaughan called for an increase in drug addiction treatment. Smyk pointed to a 2013 bill he co-sponsored that made it a felony to operate a clandestine drug laboratory.
On a question about smart growth, Vaughan called for county wide regional planning, while Ayotte said the county needed to get on top of development because infrastructure improvements have not caught up. Smyk said the county is on a path toward smart growth, pointing to the state and county’s proposed transportation improvement district.
Pointing out the acidic nature of party politics, a questioner asked the candidates if they’d be willing to compromise in Dover. In response, all three candidates touted their ability to compromise.
Ayotte said as an Independent, he would be willing to work across the aisle in the best interest of the state.
Vaughan said she didn’t care what party a person was. “I just want to be able to communicate with someone,” she said.
Smyk said he’s worked with his Democratic counterparts in the General Assembly on a number of issues already, including SUN Behavioral Health, a 90-bed facility located in Georgetown that will provide mental and substance abuse counseling.
As a courtesy to Cape Gazette readers, there’s a sample ballot for the Nov. 8 General Election on page 22 of the Friday, Nov. 4 edition.
State Election Commissioner Elaine Manlove said the state law requiring publication of a sample ballot was repealed in 2010. She said she didn’t remember the exact reason, but said it probably was done as a cost-saving measure.
Manlove said the printed publication wasn’t a true representation of the ballot because no one printed ballot can be specific to all districts.
According to state law, the Department of Elections must provide each district with two sample ballots, which are supposed to be posted in a conspicuous place on Election Day.
Manlove said all the specific district sample ballots can be found at ivote.de.gov.
