Shawn Lovenguth officially enters Cape school board race

Milton native Shawn Lovenguth is now an official candidate in the Cape Henlopen school board election, set for Tuesday, May 9.

Lovenguth is challenging incumbent Jessica Tyndall for the Area A seat, which comprises Milton and its surrounding area. He filed to run Feb. 28, before the March 3 deadline, but his name wasn’t added to the list of candidates until March 7.

Due to Senate Bill 78, school board candidates must now undergo criminal background and Child Protection Registry checks; the election commissioner evaluates each and then determines if individuals have any disqualifying convictions before deeming them candidates.

Lovenguth said he hopes to bring new ideas and fresh approaches to the board. He said every school district employee he has spoken with does a great job from the heart.

“Running is well worth it, and I think the kids are in need of some additional things right now,” he said.

Two things are needed in schools, Lovenguth said: good students who want to learn and good teachers. He said he’d like to get parents more involved with their children’s education.

“We have that, just need to bring it together a little more,” he said.

Lovenguth said discipline and safety are top concerns, citing the March 2 threats called in to Delaware schools. He said he’d like to see a school resource officer stationed at each school.

“Time is of the essence,” he said. “Our local towns have great cops, but someone on campus could reach it faster.”

For 27 years, Lovenguth has worked at Delaware Solid Waste Authority. As the senior facility operations supervisor, he said his experience working with blueprints and designs will come in handy as the district plans for more schools. Lovenguth also owned the popular M&H restaurant on Route 5 from 2012-19.

Lovenguth attended H.O. Brittingham Elementary and Milton Junior High, and graduated from Cape in 1990. He holds an associate degree in criminal justice from Delaware Technical Community College.

Shawn and his wife Tammie live in Ellendale. They have two sons, Chase, a 2022 Cape High grad, and Ethan, a Cape High sophomore.

About the election

The school board election is set for 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., Tuesday, May 9, at district schools to be announced closer to the date. Absentee voting is available. While candidates in this election must reside in Area A, all eligible voters in the Cape Henlopen School District can cast votes.

Eligible voters must be 18 years old on the day of the election, and be Delaware citizens residing in the Cape Henlopen School District. Voters must provide proof of identity and address.

The Area A four-year term begins July 1, 2023 and expires June 30, 2027. For more information, go to elections.delaware.gov.