Coastal Network Endorses Mark Schaeffer for the 3rd Sussex County Council District-Solid Candidate!

OPINION

Dear Friends,

I Am happy to endorse Incumbent Mark Schaeffer (R) who is seeking reelection as the 3^rd District County Councilman. Mark is the former Mayor of Smyrna and Little Creek and is a natural leader who performs wonderful constituent services. I have known Mark and worked with him for over 20 years. Mark has been a stabilizing and effective influence on the Sussex County Council since 2020 and has done an excellent job. He should be reelected. Folks, Mark Schaeffer is the real deal and is a solid and caring human being ! All that being said, please read below important, significant, and truthful statements from Mark, stating his platform and clearly setting the record straight ! PLEASE REELECT MARK SCHAEFFER !!!

Respectfully Submitted,

JUDSON Bennett-Coastal Network

FROM MARK SCHAEFFER :

Dear friends,

“My opponent is playing fast and loose with the truth regarding my record, so I want to set the record straight on a few things. As we’re all aware, Sussex County has been saddled with problems of overdevelopment, traffic congestion, and environmental degradation for decades.

Because I have a 40-year track record of fighting to preserve Delaware’s natural environment–including the creation of the first Comprehensive Land Use Plan sent to Governor Ruth Ann Minner–I was elected in 2020 to address those concerns. I first took the oath of office on January 5, 2021, and in the brief time I’ve been in a position to effect change, here’s what I’ve done, all of which is a matter of public record:

Saved almost 2,000 acres in perpetuity from development (this land will NEVER be developed).
Voted NO on over two dozen development projects over concerns about environmental disturbance and overdevelopment.
Voted NO not once, but TWICE on the Coral Lakes subdivision.
Voted NO on the River Road subdivision.
Voted NO on the Round Poll Bridge Road subdivision.
STOPPED construction of the proposed subdivision next to Love Creek Elementary, saving a large area of old‑growth forest.
STOPPED construction of what would have been an eyesore nightclub/restaurant at the old Old Landing Golf Course (which, incidentally, would have been right across the street from my opponent’s residence).
Helped the community efforts that STOPPED construction of a new Royal Farms convenience store at the corner of Rt 24 and Angola RD that would have made traffic congestion in the area much worse than it already is.
Facilitated the efforts that increased new development buffers, introducing the procedural motion to make these new regulations into Sussex County Law.
Protected old‑growth forests by helping to make laws that significantly curtail the practice of clear‑cutting woodlands.

I’m also a trustee of the Sussex County Land Trust and a Board Member of the West Rehoboth Community Land Trust–and for Me, the Sussex Preservation Coalition is not just a vehicle for self-promotion. I was one of the first members of the Coalition and have continued to actively provide out-of-pocket financial support and creative publicity for the organization by sponsoring projects like high school essay contests.

Overdevelopment, infrastructure inadequacies, and threats to the natural beauty of our environment are problems that we’ve all inherited. Over the past three and a half years, I’ve taken every opportunity to reverse the course we’ve been on for far too long, and my record shows that. With your support, I will ardently continue to do so.

I’m NOT just a “One‑Issue Guy”

Like you, I’m a community member who cares deeply about our safety, well-being, and what kind of place our children and grandchildren will come to call home. My wife Ruby and I are both certified EMTs and active members of the Lewes Volunteer Fire Department. I will always support our police, firefighters, and emergency medical technicians, and be a tireless advocate for their funding and provisioning.

I’m thrilled and proud to have been endorsed by the Delaware State Fraternal Order of Police

I have also been and will continue to be a strong advocate for small businesses that are the lifeblood of our communities, and I’ll always be a voice for working men and women who create and maintain our quality of life.

And don’t we pay too much in taxes already? Fighting government waste and politically motivated misallocation of government resources will remain one of my top priorities. We must be fiscally responsible and our County government must live within its means.

As your County Councilman, I have worked to keep the 3rd District safe, livable, clean, and prosperous, and to preserve our community’s traditional charm and character. I have always been available to talk directly to any constituent who has something to say to the County Government. My goal is to continue to serve the people of the 3rd District with compassion, integrity, and dedication to creating a better and more sustainable tomorrow.

As for my opponent, I would ask voters to put two questions to her in earnest:

What SPECIFICALLY (key word) has Mark Schaeffer done over the past three and a half years that you would not have done, or would have done differently?
What SPECIFICALLY (again, key word) has Mark Schaeffer NOT done over the past three and a half years, that you would have done?

What voters will find, is that my opponent is unable to provide a concise and coherent answer to either of those questions. The fact is, my opponent has provided no specifics whatsoever in either her critique of my job performance or regarding her own plan and agenda. Her campaign is a transparent vanity project, and her entire message is grounded in ludicrous accusations based on absurd conspiracy theories. Now is not the time to be taken in by childish nonsense that insults the intelligence of our people. We need authentic leadership focused on the issues that matter to our community.

So, let’s keep our sleeves rolled up and continue to work to reclaim our future. I humbly ask for your support on election day, November 5, 2024.

All My Best