Sokola Leads Delaware Cycling Delegation to Capitol Hill

Roger Roy, a member of the Delaware Bicycle Council, and Senator Tom Carper on Thursday during the National Bike Summit.

Delaware Cyclists Meet with Senators Carper and Coons

A delegation of Delaware cyclists led by State Senator Dave Sokola traveled to Capitol Hill on Thursday as part of the National Bike Summit to meet with Senators Carper and Coons about improving cycling and walking in Delaware, and how the federal government can help.

Delaware’s cycling delegation:

State Senator David P. Sokola graduated from Mount Pleasant High School (1973) and the University of Delaware (BSPE 1977). He has served in the Delaware State Senate since 1990 and as the Chairman of the Senate Education for the past 23 years. He is also a current Co-Chair of the State’s Bond Committee. Senator Sokola has been recognized and honored with numerous awards including: the, the Sierra Club Award for outstanding achievement in environmental leadership, DSEA Friend of Education Award, the Delaware Office of Highway Safety Friend of Highway Safety Award, and the University of Delaware’s College of Education 2nd Mile Award for his contribution to education in Delaware. Senator Sokola is the author of multiple pro-cycling pieces of legislation, including the Right Turn Lane Law. He spoke at the National Bike Summit in 2013. He has a passion for physical fitness, and is an avid cyclist and certified spinning instructor.

Jonathan Kirch is the Government Relations Director for the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association for Delaware and the City of Philadelphia. Jonathan is a recognized leader on health policy and legislation having been involved in a broad range of issues, including stroke center designation, tobacco control, health care reform, and emergency cardiovascular care, among many others. Jonathan served as the inaugural and Founding Chair of the Delaware Healthy Eating and Active Living Coalition, as well as serving on the Governor’s Council for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention. Jonathan enjoys biking and can regularly be spotted riding the Creek Road and Pomeroy Trails from his home in the middle of White Clay Creek State Park to Newark and the University of Delaware. He has been a key supporter of completing the Wilmington – New Castle Greenway.

Roger Roy served as a Delaware State Representative from 1976 to 2006. He was Co-Chair of the Capital Bond and Infrastructure Committee for 22 years and also chaired the Telecommunications, Internet and Technology Committee. He has led the Legislators Bike To Work Ride since its inception in the early 1990s. He has been a member of the Delaware Bicycle Council since 2010. He works as a lobbyist at The Burris Firm.

Gail Seitz is a native Delawarean who recently completed a 3,700 mile bicycle ride across the United States. Gail has worked in the Delaware District Office of Congressman John Carney, for companies such as DuPont and Accenture and has taught in elementary schools, middle schools and at the University of Delaware. Gail’s community service includes the Board of Directors of the Wilmington YMCA, the New Castle Senior Center and the New Castle Historical Society; Session of the New Castle Presbyterian Church; mentoring in public schools and Boys and Girls Clubs for over 10 years; and serving on multiple committees for her home City of New Castle.

James Wilson has been the executive director of Bike Delaware since 2011. He is a member of the Institute of Transportation Engineers, the Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals, the board of directors of Delaware Greenways, the Delaware Bicycle Council, the Wilmington Area Planning Council (WILMPACO) Nonmotorized Transportation Working Group and the Wilmington Bicycle Advisory Committee. James was named the 2014 Professional of the Year, Nonprofit Sector, by the Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals. He is the only registered lobbyist for cycling in Delaware. He holds engineering degrees from Yale University and the University of Texas at Austin.