Republican Frank Shade makes it official

Because of the many events he's involved with, Frank Shade of Lewes is one of the best-known people in Sussex County. He's hoping that recognition will propel him to a seat on Sussex County Council.

Republican Shade has joined two other Republicans in the race for the District 3 seat being vacated by Democrat Joan Deaver, who will not seek a third term.

Shade, 67, retired after 25 years working for Sussex County government. He was one of the original 10 county paramedics who helped establish the program in 1990. “It's now an internationally recognized system that has touched hundreds of thousands of lives and saved God knows how many. There is a lot of pride there,” he said.

Shade left the paramedics department to become director of purchasing and fleet management but returned to where he started the last two years of his employment.

He now works as development coordinator for Lower Delaware Autism Foundation, an organization he has volunteered for as a board member. He has a 19-year-old autistic grandson.

Shade: 'I can hit the ground running'

He said he has worked with three county administrators, three finance directors and all council members over the past 25 years. “And I've worked with every department in the county. If elected, I can hit the ground running,” he said.

Shade said one of his chief concerns is how the county approaches development. “Before any construction is approved, infrastructure should be in place – before the first shovel of dirt is turned over,” he said.

Shade said there is no doubt his voice would he heard on council. “If they won't listen, I'll sign up and talk as a taxpayer,” he said, adding former Councilman George Collins was known for taking on that tactic.

“We are totally legislated by council members from western Sussex. We need a strong voice that is not disrespected,” he said.

“The good ole boy system has to go away,” he said. “And the county needs to be more transparent with fewer private meetings.”

Shade said he was concerned when 65 county wastewater operators voted to join the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Union. “This screams that county officials aren't listening to their people. There has to be an issue there; it should have never happened,” he said.

Then-Democrat Shade tried his hand at politics once before in an unsuccessful 2010 bid against Republican 37th District Rep. Ruth Briggs King.

He's since changed parties. “The Democratic Party is no longer reflective of my conservative values,” he said.

Shade and his wife, B.J., have lived in Sussex County for 26 years after moving from the Virginia Beach, Va. area. “There is no other place we would want to go. We've met so many great people here,” he said.

In the Tidewater area, the couple lived on a 20-acre horse farm. Shade sold John Hancock life insurance and was a volunteer paramedic. They moved to Sussex County so Shade could help his father rehabilitate following a stroke.

“The only reason I'm running is to do some good for the community,” he said. “I care about people and value the lifestyle we have in eastern Sussex. I want Sussex County to be the best it can be.”

Among his long list of volunteer activities, Shade served for seven years as president of the World Championship Punkin Chunkin Association. He recently accepted the position of vice president after serving as communications director.

Born in Reading, Pa., he also served in the U.S. Navy in the late 1960s.

He was honored for his volunteer work with a Jefferson Award in 2007.

“I started volunteering at a very young age, and it's become second nature,” he said.

Race includes three Republicans, one Democrat

Republicans Kevin Burdette of Milton and Mark Schaeffer of Lewes and Democrat Leslie Ledogar of Lewes have also announced they are running for the District 3 seat.

District 3 is the area north of Route 24 including the communities and areas near Lewes, Milton, Milford, Broadkill Beach, Ellendale, Primehook Beach and Slaughter Beach.

Two other Republican incumbents face re-election this year: Council President Mike Vincent of Seaford, District 1; and Council Vice President Sam Wilson of Georgetown, District 2. Neither has made an official announcement.

The deadline to file for county council seats is noon, Tuesday, July 12. The primary election is 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., Tuesday, Sept. 13, with the general election from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 8.