Dramatic shifts proposed in new Sussex districts

As proposed, the new Sussex County councilmanic districts are a dramatic change from the five current districts.

During a Dec. 14 presentation to Sussex County Council, county attorney J. Everett Moore detailed the significant changes caused by population growth over the past 10 years, particularly in coastal Sussex. Based on the 2020 census results for Delaware, Sussex County’s population increased more than 20 percent between 2010 and 2020, from 197,145 residents to 237,378 residents. By law, the county must update its map every 10 years. But before the proposed map can be adopted, the public will get a chance to comment on it.

Moore said the proposed map is similar to one presented to the county by the League of Women Voters during the public comment period. Moore said he would introduce an ordinance to change the current map at the Tuesday, Jan. 11, 2022 meeting and schedule a public hearing in February.

In the Cape Region, where most of the population increase occurred, District 3 has been reduced to about half of its current geographic size. It retains the Lewes area, eliminates the Milton area, and adds Rehoboth Beach and Dewey Beach, which are currently in District 4.

District 4 shifts southward to include all of southeastern Sussex west to the Selbyville area.

The proposed districts

District 5 – Although every district changes somewhat, District 5 will be a new central Sussex district with the addition of the Georgetown area and the deletion of the Fenwick Island area – moved to District 4 – and the Gumboro, Laurel and Delmar areas, which were added to District 1. District 5 spans portions of the Cape Henlopen and Indian River school districts.

The current district covers the entire southern portion of the county from Fenwick Island to Millsboro and Selbyville, and then to the Laurel and Delmar areas.

District 4 – Southeastern Sussex with the areas in and around Bethany Beach, South Bethany, Fenwick Island, Dagsboro, Frankford and Selbyville. All of this district’s area is within the Indian River School District.

District 3 – Areas in and around Lewes, Rehoboth Beach, Dewey Beach and the Delaware Bay beach towns. The district contains much of the Cape Henlopen School District, as well as parts of the Milford and Indian River school districts.

District 2 – Areas in and around Bridgeville, Milford, Greenwood and Milton. The district includes the Woodbridge School District and parts of the Cape Henlopen, Indian River, and Milford school districts.

District 1 – Areas in and around Seaford, Blades, Laurel, Bethel, Delmar, and Gumboro to the Maryland-Delaware line. It contains most of the Seaford School District, all of Laurel and Delmar school districts, and a portion of the Indian River School District.

All of the current council members live within the boundaries of their prospective new districts.

Four of five do not comply

Moore said each of the newly drawn council districts must encompass an average of 47,475 residents. Each district must be within 5 percent of that average, containing no fewer than 45,101 residents and no more than 49,849.

Moore said four of the five current districts are outside the prescribed average population.

Sussex County’s five-member county council is the legislative body of county government, with members elected from individual districts. Each member serves a four-year term.

District 1 – Mike Vincent, elected in 2008; term expires in 2024

District 2 – Cindy Green, elected in 2020; term expires in 2024

District 3 – Mark Schaeffer, elected in 2020; term expires in 2024

District 4 – Doug Hudson, elected in 2018; term expires in 2022

District 5 – John Rieley, elected in 2018; term expires in 2022

Public comment solicited

The public is invited to offer comments on the proposed map. They can be submitted by email to redistricting@sussexcountyde.gov, or by standard mail addressed to Clerk of the Sussex County Council, PO Box 589, Georgetown, DE 19947. Written and email correspondence will be accepted through 4:30 p.m., Friday, Jan. 7, 2022.

See the proposed map and the presentation given by Moore at sussexcountyde.gov/2021-county-council-redistricting.