Rick Quill files to run in Lewes election

Blue Water House Bed and Breakfast owner Rick Quill has thrown his hat into the ring for a seat on Lewes City Council. 

The businessman who’s also developed several properties in town said he has become disgusted with the way the city is run and wants to see major changes in leadership. 

“Out with the old, in with the new,” Quill said. 

He’s a strong advocate for compliance with the city’s comprehensive plan and city code, and he often holds council’s feet to the fire on the words written in the comp plan when he believes current elected officials go against it. 

“I’m not here to make friends,” he said. “I just want a voice to be heard. You see the surface, but there’s so much more percolating under that surface.” 

Quill was a political science major at the University of Delaware, but left early to pursue a job opportunity. He moved to Lewes in 1999, when he personally developed and built several properties throughout the city. He most recently ran into roadblocks with the city when trying to develop the Lewes Ice House on New Road and is again having difficulty working with the city to develop the property at the corner of Savannah Road and Cape Henlopen Drive across from the Dairy Queen. 

“I’m about family, friends and my neighbors,” he said. “I do what I think is best. If I’m wrong, I admit it and make amends. I try to accumulate people that can solve problems.” 

He is a fervent proponent of private property rights and full transparency in government, specifically that it is the government’s responsibility to notify every property owner that may be affected by an issue. Simple public notice is not enough, he said, as he would like to see the city send letters to residents to keep them aware of pending legislation that may positively or negatively impact their property. 

“I want to see some of these committees whittled down,” he said. “I want to see them concentrate on the day-to-day living right now. They’re not prioritizing. You have people getting appointed that have subjective points of view, and they’re pushing their subjective points of view and they’re knifing property owners’ rights in the back without any input. It’s got to end.” 

He said he wants the city to make it easier to build a variety of housing types to attract a more diverse population. He pointed to the city’s second core value, which is “Lewes is a community of diversity.” He said he would love to welcome a police officer, nurse or teacher as a new neighbor, but it’s difficult for people with those occupations to afford homes in Lewes with the limited stock of housing and the city code limiting what can be built. 

Quill believes the city is overburdened with bureaucracy. Micromanagement by mayor and city council is a problem, he said, and he would like to see more autonomy given to the city manager, city planner and staff. 

“I don’t want the city manager and staff to be micromanaged by a culture that I think has been going in the wrong direction for many years,” he said.

As for the Lewes Board of Public Works, Quill said he believes the utility should be independent of the city. 

Quill hopes more people step up to the plate and file to run. He said he would like to see more women and people of color seek office to add more diversity to council. 

The election is slated for Saturday, May 8.

Registration info

Candidates have until Thursday, April 1, to submit paperwork to run in the election.

To be an eligible candidate, a person must be at least 21 years old and a full-time Lewes resident for at least one year, and shall not have been convicted of a felony.

Candidates should drop off necessary paperwork at city hall. If they are concerned about in-person interaction, they may call the city manager to make other arrangements.

The voter registration deadline is Friday, April 23. To be eligible to vote, a person must be at least 18 years old as of May 8, 2021, and a full-time Lewes resident. A person is removed from the city’s voter registration list if they have not voted in two consecutive elections – 2020 and 2014 are Lewes’ most recent elections.

Unlike the 2020 election, the city is not planning to send absentee ballot applications to every registered voter this year. People can make a personal choice to vote in person or via mail-in ballot, which can be requested by calling city hall, 302-645-7777.

To download a voter registration form or find other election-related information, go to ci.lewes.de.us/273/Election-Information.