Sussex County officials sworn in
Winners in the November election, including two Sussex County councilmen and three county row officers (all Republicans), were sworn in Jan. 3 to begin the new year.
Re-elected to second four-year terms are District 4 Councilman Doug Hudson, who lives near Dagsboro, and District 5 Councilman John Rieley of rural Millsboro.
Hudson, who retired after a 27-year Delaware State Police career, has also been an active member of Bethany Beach Volunteer Fire Company. Hudson served on the county planning & zoning commission before being elected to county council in 2018.
Rieley, who is retired from careers in food management and financial planning, helps run the family farm near Millsboro. Rieley not only won the general election, but also the Republican primary.
District 4 includes southeastern Sussex County communities, including the Bethany Beach, Dagsboro, Fenwick Island, Frankford, Long Neck, Millville, Oak Orchard, Ocean View, Selbyville and South Bethany areas.
District 5 takes in central Sussex County, including the communities of Georgetown and Millsboro.
In other council business, Council President Mike Vincent, representing District 1, and Council Vice President Rieley were unanimously re-elected. It's Vincent’s 13th consecutive year serving as president. By code, officers must be elected at the first meeting of each new year.
Sussex row offices
Sussex County Sheriff Robert Lee was first elected in 2014 after a law enforcement career of more than 35 years. Newly elected Register of Wills Greg Fuller of Lincoln and newcomer Recorder of Deeds Alexandra Reed Baker of Harbeson started their new positions after being sworn in.
Reed Baker, a University of Delaware and Wilmington College graduate, has worked for the past 10 years in the sales and settlement department for a local homebuilder.
Fuller, who was appointed as register of wills in 2008 and served two years, is a U.S. Army veteran and Department of Correction retiree. He holds numerous degrees from several universities.
Legal staff appointed
It is customary for council to appoint legal staff during its first meeting of the year.
Council approved J. Everett Moore's reappointment as county attorney. Meantime, staff from the Moore & Rutt law firm will represent the board of adjustment, and staff from Parkowski, Guerke & Swayze will represent the planning & zoning commission as assistant county attorneys.
