Smyk puts his hat in the ring for Senate

Having grown up in Sussex County, Steve Smyk said he loves the connections he has made throughout the community. It’s those connections that have him running for the 6th District Senate seat.

Smyk, a five-term Republican representative for the 20th District, which covers Milton and Lewes, said a lot of people had been asking whether he was going to run, but he held off announcing for the Senate seat held by retiring Sen. Ernie Lopez until the new lines for legislative districts were drawn.

Now that he knows the district runs from Prime Hook in the north, and south to Lewes and Rehoboth Beach, Smyk said, he’s ready to serve all constituents in the area, having proven himself worthy in the Lewes and Milton area.

Smyk, and fellow Cape Region legislators Lopez, and Speaker of the House Rep. Pete Schwartzkopf, D-Rehoboth Beach, have earned the moniker The Three Amigos. Smyk said their success has been based on a middle-of-the-road approach to issues that he plans to continue if elected to the Senate. 

“We are middle people, and people on the extremes try to draw us apart, and that’s not fair to the people who put us in office,” he said. “I don’t care what party a constituent is, if they have a need, I’m going to help them. What matters is I have to look past the loud concerns of the people most passionate about issues, and dive down into my district and find out what the majority think who are quiet.” 

A former Delaware State Police officer, Smyk, 56, said public safety has been a top priority of his for 30 years. Supporting emergency responders and area fire departments has been key for him, and he said he plans to continue to do so.

Looking at Prime Hook, Smyk said residents have told him conservation measures to preserve the marshes and open spaces are important to them. In Lewes and Rehoboth, managing growth is at the forefront. For example, he said, proposed traffic circles on Kings Highway should be reevaluated to make sure truck deliveries to area businesses are not hindered.

“Being a public servant is being part of the community and serving those communities,” Smyk said. “If anybody says they have all the answers, they are wrong.” 

Smyk said he did not agree with the pandemic shutdown ordered by the executive branch without any input from the Legislature, and he worked to help small businesses and the local economy stay afloat. 

“We saw policies during COVID that strangled the small business owner,” he said.

Amid  the shutdown, however, Smyk said there was a bright spot. Sports at the Beach near Georgetown held games every weekend throughout the summer – a much-needed pastime that Smyk said he wholeheartedly supported.

Smyk said he is running for Senate out of a deep-rooted belief in doing good and giving back. “I can help people but because I know people,” he said. “If I’m not serving, using my talents to serve others, then I’m not serving God.”