Barbara Curtis, Pres Lee elected to Lewes BPW
Lewes Board of Public Works customers have elected newcomer Barbara Curtis and incumbent D. Preston Lee.
A total of 460 customers voted in the May 13 election. Curtis received 350 votes, Lee got 251 votes and Wendell Alfred collected 205 votes. Voters could select up to two people on each ballot.
Lee will retain the seat he has held for the past 12 years, while Curtis will begin a three-year term.
“It was a good election. I think we had two other good candidates and we really couldn’t have failed in this election,” Lee said after the results were announced. “I feel good about myself, but Barbara is special and she’s really good.”
Lee serves as secretary of the board after previously filling the roles of president and vice president. Recently, he convinced the board to explore a smaller-sized water tower alongside its studies of the approved 1 million-gallon water tank that will be placed on Jones Farm. He has said the future of wastewater treatment in Lewes is probably the biggest decision he has faced during his time on the board.
Curtis joins the BPW after promising voters that she will bring an environmental science perspective to decision-making. A member of the BPW Mitigation Team, Curtis has been sharing her ideas with the board for more than a year, including being an active participant in meetings and workshops concerning the future of wastewater treatment in Lewes. She ran a visible campaign, utilizing signs and having a presence at key events in the weeks leading up to the election.
"I'm both humbled and delighted to have been elected,” Curtis said in a statement “I'm looking forward to getting to work and to serving this community I love so well!"
Curtis added that after speaking with Alfred and Lee, she was comfortable that Lewes would be well served no matter the outcome. She thanked everyone who came out to vote and all who agreed it's time for an environmental science perspective at the BPW.
Alfred was one of the first people to congratulate Curtis and Lee following the announcement. He was encouraged by the attendance at the Greater Lewes Civic Coalition election forum and hopes it is the beginning of more people attending BPW meetings. The former BPW president extended his best wishes to Curtis and Lee and believes the citizens have elected candidates that will serve Lewes and the BPW well.
Lewes BPW President Tom Panetta and General Manager Austin Calaman were noticeably discouraged by the low voter turnout, despite a well-attended election forum. While the weather was less than ideal, only 460 of the eligible 1,081 registered voters cast a ballot. There are about 3,738 properties receiving BPW services, excluding duplicate owners and names on accounts. Only 29% of ratepayers eligible to register to vote have done so. Voter rolls in BPW elections have the potential to be larger than the rolls used in municipal elections by the City of Lewes. This is because while one must be a full-time resident to vote in Lewes elections, one need only be a customer of the Lewes BPW to vote in its elections.
Resident Dawnel White raised the issue of registration complications during the election forum May 10, and her concerns were echoed by all three candidates. Curtis noted in her response that one of the beauties of the BPW election is that it allows for taxation with representation because if you pay for utilities, you have a voice. Lee added that it is a topic worth exploring because, despite winning previous elections, he noticed there were chances to simplify and streamline the process.
At the forum, Lee also noted customers’ lack of participation in meetings and workshops.
“Nobody shows up at our meetings, and you pay a lot more in our rates than you do on your taxes,” Lee said. “I know it's a dull subject most of the time, but, please, you could help us by showing up.”
The Lewes BPW will hold a workshop on the future of Lewes’ wastewater treatment Wednesday, May 17, and the regular board meeting is set a week later Wednesday, May 24. Both meetings will be at city hall. Lee and Curtis will be sworn in at the May 24 meeting.
