Lopez and Baker Compete in Milton – Lewes – Rehoboth Beach State Senate Race
The cities of Milton, Lewes, Rehoboth and Dewey Beach, and the adjacent suburban communities, are all located in Delaware State Senate District 6. State Senator Ernie Lopez and Mr. David Baker are competing against each other for the seat on November 6.
Bike Delaware sent a short (just three questions) survey to Senator Lopez and Mr. Baker. Each question simply asked for the candidates’ views on the three major pieces of walking/cycling legislation that have been passed by the Delaware General Assembly in the last 8 years:
- I voted for, or agree with, Walkable Bikeable Delaware (2011), which called for strategic investments by the Delaware Department of Transportation in infrastructure for walking and cycling.
- I voted for, or agree with, the Healthy and Transit-Friendly Development Act (2016), which established a mechanism in Delaware state law for State and local governments to coordinate transportation investments and land use regulation in order to encourage the development of walkable, bikeable and transit-friendly communities.
- I voted for, or agree with, the Bicycle Friendly Delaware Act (2017), which made changes to Delaware’s Rules of the Road relating to bicycles (and farm equipment and animal-drawn vehicles).
Both Senator Lopez and Mr. Baker answered “Strongly Agree” to each of these statements.
Senator Lopez’s record includes his support for the creation of new trail in Milton (where he personally provided $100,000 in matching funding to enable the $1,000,000 project to move ahead). As a member of the Five Points Working Group, he voted against a proposal to build a road in the railroad right of way where the Lewes-Georgetown Trail is being built. Finally, he didn’t just vote for the Healthy and Transit-Friendly Development Act, he was also a co-sponsor.
David Baker brings deep government experience to his state senate candidacy. He worked for Sussex County for 34 years, including as the Director of Accounting, County Finance Director and, finally, County Administrator.
From Claymont in the North to Dagsboro in the South, there are dozens of competitive Delaware Senate and House races that will be decided by our votes on November 6. These races are important because Delaware’s State Senators and State Representatives are the people who – among other things – approve (or don’t!) the funding to build major trails like the Wilmington-New Castle Greenway and the Lewes-Georgetown Trail; who set the laws that influence the future development of our communities (will development make our communities more, or less, walkable and bikeable?); who make the policies that govern the operations of influential state agencies like the Delaware Department of Transportation; and who decide what Delaware’s Rules of the Road should be. Check out Bike Delaware’s 2018 Voter’s Guide for information on all these races.
Get informed. And then vote smart on November 6.
