Recently, residents of Sussex County received mailers supporting and opposing specific candidates for Sussex County Council, but the mailers were not from any individual’s campaign. The mailers were “Paid for by Preserve Sussex,” a political action committee that includes developers that have active projects in Sussex County or projects before the Sussex County Planning & Zoning Commission for approval. Raising nearly $100,000 since 2023, big names like developer Elmer Fannin and Stonemark Ventures are donors. The challenge is that the majority of voters who receive mailers will not know who Preserve Sussex truly is. The next question is, why are they supporting specific candidates and opposing others?
One of the most concerning aspects of developer-backed PACs is their ability to obscure the true identities and interests of their donors. Unlike individual contributions, where voters can clearly see who is supporting which candidate and potentially why, PACs can serve as a veil, hiding the real players behind massive donations. This lack of transparency means that voters may be unknowingly swayed by campaign ads, mailers and endorsements funded by groups with specific, often self-serving agendas.
The financial clout of these PACs exacerbates the problem. While individual citizens are capped at a modest $600 contribution limit in many local elections, PACs can funnel tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars into a single race. This disparity creates a playing field that is anything but level. The influence of a PAC can dwarf the collective voice of regular voters, drowning out the concerns of the community in favor of the narrow interests of developers who seek to profit from land deals and zoning decisions.
This dynamic is especially pernicious in local elections, where the stakes might seem small but are in fact immensely significant. Decisions about land use, zoning and development can shape the character of a community for generations. When developer-backed PACs pour money into campaigns, they are not simply supporting candidates who share their vision; they are often investing in politicians who will owe their election, in large part, to these PACs. The potential for quid pro quo arrangements, whether explicit or implicit, is high, with elected officials feeling pressure to prioritize the interests of their financial backers over those of the broader public.
Two political races in Sussex County have political connections to this Preserve Sussex PAC or its donors. The developer PAC sent out a mailer asking residents to re-elect Cindy Green for Sussex County Council. The Patrick Smith campaign for the 36th District in Sussex is run by the Fannin family, a $10,000 donor to the Preserve Sussex PAC in 2023. Before you go to the polls Tuesday, Sept. 10, ask yourself, why does this group of developers want these two candidates to be elected to government positions?
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